From the Australian today
HIGH-PROFILE union leader Paul Howes has dropped defamation action against the head of the small engineers union, Steve Purvinas, with the duo conceding their public spat was undermining the need to unite against ‘‘vicious attacks’’ by employers.
The peace deal was brokered by the national secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Tony Sheldon, who acknowledged yesterday the legal fight was ‘‘not a good look for the broader (union) movement’’. Mr Howes, the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union, launched defamation action in August, claiming he was humiliated and embarrassed by an email sent by Mr Purvinas, the federal secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association, to members of the ACTU executive headed ‘‘Problems with the AWU’’.
Mr Howes alleged the email portrayed him as ‘‘two-faced’’ and preoccupied with ‘‘swanning around with politicians and leaders of industry in the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge as he prepares to clear for himself a safe Labor seat in the federal parliament’’.
Mr Sheldon, who thrashed out the deal with the two men recently in his union’s Sydney office, said that he had been concerned that the duo were spending resources on the legal battle rather than the bigger challenges posed by some employers. The legal action by Mr Howes, whose union has 140,000 members, risked putting financial pressure on Mr Purvinas and his 3200-member union.
‘‘They are a small union and don’t have much resources,’’ one official said. ‘‘It wouldn’t have been pretty.’’ Under a memorandum of agreement, Mr Howes and Mr Purvinas agreed to ‘‘withdraw, apologise for, and accept withdrawal of all uncomplimentary comments’’ previously made against each other. Comments on Twitter, Facebook and other internet forum would also be deleted. The agreement says the union movement faces some of its biggest challenges, with militant employers, spurred on by the ‘‘antiworker’’ Tony Abbott, perpetrating ‘‘brazen and vicious attacks’’ on workers.
While the men agreed unions must rally together to meet such challenges, ‘‘this is not to say that there will not be differences in approaches along the way’’. ‘‘Our diversity strengthens us,’’ they said. ‘‘But when our differences appear so distinct as to threaten our capacity to meet the challenges we face, we must sometimes together redouble our efforts to resolve them.’’
After signing the document, which was witnessed by Mr Sheldon, Mr Howes and Mr Purvinas said they went and talked ‘‘over a beer’’. Mr Howes said yesterday he had known Mr Purvinas ‘‘probably longer than anyone else in the union movement’’. ‘‘Despite our relationship having many ups and downs, I have always respected him,’’ he said. ‘‘I would much rather be united with my colleagues in campaigning against those who seek to undermine a fair go in this country than (fighting) each other.’’
Mr Purvinas said it ‘‘was good that both of us could shake hands’’ and resolve their differences ‘‘over a beer’’ rather than continue action through the courts.