Thread by @sallymcmanus

It is easy to start normalising the ways the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrission Gment has abused the union movement, and overlook the consequences for doing so. Let’s remember:

The union royal commission:
- terms of reference go back 20 years
- free reign on all unions
- appointment of a commissioner who was involved in fundraising for the Liberal Party
- dedicated police force
- dedicated hotline

- when for 2 years whilst bank RC when for 1
- over 200 witnesses whilst banks had 69
- union leaders phones tapped
- extensive subpoenas issued taking up massive resources to comply

- union officials arrested and media tipped off so it was televised. These people later found to be innocent
- union offices raided and media tipped off, again nothing found
- media tipped off to allegations that were later found to be untrue

- double dissolution election called solely to impose further harsh, draconian laws: the ABCC & the ROC
- ABCC resources significantly boosted to provide regular stories to the media on “law breaking” (ie industrial disputes usually about safety)

- Cash regularly used parliamentary privilege to smear innocent union members who had no way of defending themselves
- first act of ROC was televised police raids orchestrated by the Minister

- six anti-union laws that have been entirely designed to make the job of unions much harder have been introduced by this government
- three have been passed

The union movement is not a political party. We are voluntary organisations of working people standing up for our rights at work. It damages democracy and in the end hurts all working ppl when a Government attacks unions in the way this Government has.