CFMEU Wins Case against Howard Government’s Work Contracts

CFMEU of Australia won an important court decision late last week that will broaden its organising strength in development-rich Western Australia. A federal court refused to ban the union from a construction site on the Barrup Peninsula where an A$650 million ammonia plant is being built. Contractors last January blocked CFMEU from entering, saying employees already had individual work contracts under the Howard government’s Australian Workers’ Agreements. The decision is expected to have far-reaching effects across Australia for union organizers.