The Victorian Labor government, under its new Premier Ben Carroll, announced plans on August 12 to introduce a new law to close down unions which have registered as incorporated associations.

The Associations Incorporation Reform Amendment Bill 2026 will affect the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU), which was forced to register as an incorporated association in Victoria because of the discriminatory federal system.

This archaic system prevents a new union, like RAFFWU, from registering if there is already a union covering a particular industry — in this case the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Union (SDA).

RAFFWU would have registered if not for these undemocratic restrictions which, in this case, force workers to remain in a do-nothing union like the SDA.

Labor claims the law is needed because “red unions register as ordinary community associations instead of real unions”. “Red unions” do not organise workers to fight for their rights; they market themselves as “alternatives” to traditional unions registering as unincorporated associations. They are right-wing, and actively oppose COVID-19 measures, including vaccine mandates.

However, the only Red Unions registered as unincorporated associations are in Toowoomba, Queensland. This........

© Green Left Weekly