Win for business on unions: CCI

Western Australia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed a decision by Fair Work Australia that blocks unions from representing employees that do not fall under its membership.

Fair Work Australia found yesterday that Maritime Union of Australia assistant secretary Will Tracey’s application to represent a group of remotely operated vehicle operators was invalid, because Mr Tracey was acting as an MUA official.

Mr Tracey has previously sought a good faith bargaining order that required subsea oil and gas engineering group Technip Oceania to recognise him as a bargaining representative.

CCI manager of industrial relations Marcia Kuhne said the case reinforced the long-standing practice of unions representing only those employees that fall within its coverage.

“Given the number of projects currently under way or about to commence in WA and the importance of these projects to the overall economy, it is vital that work can be conducted without excessively disruptive action from unions,” Ms Kuhne said in a statement.