A New Direction !

In the eyes of many voters the links between the Australian Labor party and the unions are synonymous.  Not only are the unions a source of valuable funds to keep the party viable at election time they also have a big say in the policies that  are presented to the people.   How the average voter feels about unions can be a decisive factor in how they cast their vote.

Over the years there have been some very disappointing revelations about high living by union officials funding their lifestyle from workers dues.  That has resulted in a drop in union membership over the years and at the recent Federal election the Labor party received a disappointing share of the vote.  It was the election they were expected to win.

A few big and very militant unions give the union movement a bad name when they use their muscle to seek rewards that are far outside what the economy can provide.  The relationship between these unions and the companies that employ their members is close to a war footing and strikes and work delays are common. This recent election loss is a signal that the Labor party needs to rethink its links to the more militant unions bringing the union image into disfavour.

Labor in Australia has made a new start with a new national leader.  Anthony Albanese brings a lot of goodwill to the table and he is allied with Sally McManus, the secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions to demand that the leader of the CFMMEU step down from office over a speech in which it is claimed he denigrated one of the nation's domestic violence campaigners.   Those comments from a CFMMEU head are diametrically opposite the stance taken by the Labor party.

This is heading for a make or break situation.  That leader denies he made those comments but they were witnessed by reputable people and this dismissal could give Albanese the test of his new authority to withdraw the Labor party from the notion that it is under union control.  It will not break with the union movement, but it certainly needs to withdraw from the influence of those very militant unions bringing disharmony to the workplace,

Anthony Albanese has an opportunity to take the Australian Labor party in a new direction.   Union membership is in decline and Labor needs to prove that it speaks for the vast majority of workers who are not part of a union.   It can not do that if those very militant unions are directing policy from within the Labor tent.

It is a fact of life that we only achieve the best from a government when they have a very viable opposition snapping at their heels and with the credentials to be elected to office with a working majority should a snap election be called.  Labor leadership has lacked that charisma for a very long time !