Business has expressed alarm over a new Fair Work Commission ruling that employers fear will help unions interfere in enterprise agreements struck between companies and employees in non-unionised workplaces. In a significant decision delivering victory to the militant construction union, a three-member commission full bench ruled unions should, apart from exceptional circumstances, be given access to documents filed by companies in support of agreements covering workplaces without union members. Employers declared the decision was a blow to companies seeking to deal directly with their workers and would encourage unions to exploit technical aspects of the Fair Work Act to stymie bargaining in workplaces where unions have no members.
