The ACT Labor government has signed a secret deal giving all the unions in Canberra the right to veto tenderers for government goods and services, including in the building industry, identified as a hotspot of union corruption and standover tactics.
All ACT government agencies have been told to “decline to award a tender proposal for ACT government works or services” if the tenderer does not undertake to meet a list of union demands, including examination of company records, the names and addresses of workers and the right of entry for unions to recruit members.
Unions are also to be supplied with the names of companies and contractors tendering for business before any contract is let, to “advise the government” if the tenderer fails the union test and can ask for a contract to be cancelled if the company breaches the union requirements.
The department responsible for procurement is also required to give the unions a list of employers who breach the agreed government-union conditions.
