The CFMEU defunds the ALP

[sprintcyclist]

A powerful construction union has spectacularly quit Labor's left faction in Queensland, about two months out from the state election, labelling it a "protection racket" for "dud" politicians.
The Queensland branch of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) released a damning statement this morning, criticising Labor left for a lack of leadership and inability to advocate for working class Queenslanders.
CFMEU construction division secretary Michael Ravbar said the split would take effect immediately.
"The leadership vacuum in the left has seen a once powerful voice for working Queenslanders atrophy to the point where today it is little more than a creche for party hacks," he said.
"The left factional leadership have consistently devoted far more energy to internal intrigues and power plays than to driving a policy platform that reflects both socially and economically progressive values.
"In the process, the faction has become little more than a protection racket for dud members such as Jackie Trad, who as former deputy [premier] bears much of the blame for the failure to look after workers' interests even on major public projects such as Cross River Rail.
"Quite simply, the so-called left faction is now merely an impotent and self-serving echo chamber for a cabal of Peel Street elite who have totally lost touch with their working class roots."

Ms Trad declined to comment on the matter.

The Union's mining representative Steven Smyth said the CFMEU would also stop any donations to the Labor party, but would financially back individual candidates.

"We've got a clear direction from our membership about donating to the Labor party or any political party," he said.
"We'll support candidates who have the same principals and objectives of our members ... but we're certainly not going to be giving money to the Labor party.
"The Labor party has lost its way in that it's not standing up for blue-collar workers and families in the community."
'I expect they will continue to campaign with us': Miles
The Union has traditionally been a strong advocate for Labor, galvanising its members to campaign for the party ahead of state elections.
Mr Ravbar said the CFMEU would not campaign on behalf of the Government before the October 31 poll.
"There'll be no finances, there'll be no resources, there'll be no people on the ground," he said.
"Historically the CFMEU has been a big supporter of the ALP. If you're talking about federal or state or local government, you're probably talking millions of dollars."
But Mr Ravbar stopped short of cutting ties with the ALP completely.
"At the end of the day we still want to remain within the party," Mr Ravbar said.
"We just don't walk away from a fight or a belief that you need to govern for all, not just a select few."
The CFMEU has been publicly warring with Labor for more than a year now, over concerns about the Government's flagship infrastructure project, Cross River Rail.
In 2019, hundreds of workers marched on state parliament, calling for the resignation of then deputy premier Jackie Trad.
At the time, the trade union provocatively declared Ms Trad was "no friend of the worker" — a bold accusation for the party that prides itself on its blue-collar worker roots.

Ms Trad was later stripped of her Cross River Rail portfolio and was dropped from cabinet earlier this year, following a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into an unrelated matter.
When Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was today asked if she thought she had any dud politicians in her team, she responded, "No I don't".
"All the unions play a vital role," she said.

The left faction's most senior Government minister, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said he expected the union would still support Labor during the October poll.
"Well I understand they're staying affiliated with the Labor party, I expect they would continue to campaign with us at the election because they know that it's the Labor party who works with them to support jobs in their industries," he said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-26/ ... n/12596266

[Black Orchid]

[Redneck]

Its a defunding where you dont really defund!

Just fund individuals!

[Juliar]

Wonder if they will fund the Greenies ?

[Outlaw Yogi]

Wonder if they will fund the Greenies ?

Apparently they (CFMEU) have said that is one of their options, but are currently leaning towards KAP (Katter's crew).
And that seems the most likely scenario as their opposition to Palahoweveritspelt's admin is over Qld Labor's anti-coal stance.

[sprintcyclist]

Wonder if they will fund the Greenies ?

Apparently they (CFMEU) have said that is one of their options, but are currently leaning towards KAP (Katter's crew).
And that seems the most likely scenario as their opposition to Palahoweveritspelt's admin is over Qld Labor's anti-coal stance.

............... "We'll support candidates who have the same principals and objectives of our members ... but we're certainly not going to be giving money to the Labor party.
"The Labor party has lost its way in that it's not standing up for blue-collar workers and families in the community." ................

Seems they will support individuals as opposed to a party.
Seems they think the ALP as a party does not represent union members.

A good idea i think. the alp does not represent the worker. It has not for a long time.