Contributed from Victoria

Construction unions across Australia are determined to fight what they know is a major assault on their right to exist, at least as organisations under the control of their members and champions of the rights of the worker.

Anger and willingness to fight the Albanese government on this is not confined to officials. The workers on the construction site feel exactly the same way, and they have made this crystal clear. Evidence of this are the numerous meetings, and the first massively attended marchers across Australia. The two Nationwide marches so far are only the start of a campaign aimed at pressuring the government and employers. This will be stepped up as need be.

Pressure is being aimed at the Albanese government to encourage it to reverse its decision to put its sacking of CFMEU voted in officials and delegates, and to respect democracy, which is, the right, of construction workers to belong to a union of their choice and to choose their leaders.

Photo from Jack Garrett: Construction workers on the march to defend their right to a union of their choice

Employers are being pressured because it is their cosy arrangement with the Albanese government that has brought this attack on unionisation in the industry. Employer organisations are already using the opportunity to pull down wages and working conditions. They have demanded a return to the 1982 award, where wages are set at $25 an hour, and where safety on the job, including the prevalent of asbestos, was worse than it is today.

Anger is also tilted against the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) leadership, which is seen to be factionally embedded with the Albanese government, to the extent that it is prepared to abandon principle for factional ambitions. There is a great deal of support from all construction unions for making a break from the ACTU.

The creation of a new “alternative and democratic union body” is being flagged. It got impetus from yesterday’s meeting of the National building Industry Group Unions (NBIGU), which represents all unions in the industry. They accused the ACTU leadership of taking part in “trial by parliament and media…” without evidence.

Photo by Jono Searle/AAP

A summit representing 23 unions, and more than 200,000 workers will take place on 9 December it will discuss and make decisions on the proposal for founding this new peak union body. The disenchantment is not only with the construction unions. A fierce debate is taking place within many other unions. It is not just the NBIGU unions, and the closely allied Maritim Union of Australia (MUA).

Meanwhile, the prospect of further industrial action in the construction industry and marches is on the cards. Next time there may be a 72 hour strike.

Focus on next year’s election is growing. Support for campaigning against Labor is growing. This is not to campaign for the Coalition, but to link in with the growing disillusionment with major parties. Support will go to the Greens and others. The aim is to ensure Labor becomes a minority government compelled by the circumstances.

This will be a major move if it happens. It will increase the standing of the unions across most of Australian society because they will be seen to join with widespread disenchantment with today’s political leaders.