SYDNEY, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials from two of Australia's most left wing and militant unions met in Sydney on Friday for discussions to proposed merger, potentially creating Australia's most powerful workers union.
The Construction Forestry and Mining Union (CFMEU), representing Australia's construction industry with 90,000 members, has been struggling for political survival following a million-dollar losses in a series of court cases and an official investigation into corrupt practices.
CFMEU boss Michael O'Connor said the proposed merger with the Maritime Union of Australia, one of Australia's wealthiest unions which represents 10,000 members, is important for the political struggle beyond the fight for better wages and working conditions.
The MUA was responsible for temporarily shutting down Hutchison Ports in Australia's Brisbane and Sydney berths while overturning the sackings of workers via email and sms messages in August.
MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin told local media on Friday while the decision hasn't been taken lightly, the potential merger would create Australia's most powerful union.
"Discussions with the like-minded CFMEU will help us fight the ever-pervasive, anti-worker and anti-union attacks on workers and their entitlements and job security," Crumlin said.
