The Wire

At the urging of industry figures the federal government will amend the Fair Work Act to make it harder for two large unions to join together.

The Australian reports that 30 executives from the Oil, Mining and Gas industries met cabinet ministers to urge them to stop the merger of the Construction, Mining, Forestry and Energy Union and the Maritime Union of Australia.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash says the merger presents a “major threat to Australia’s productivity and economic prosperity”.