The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) National Conference opened today in the national capital and will run until Thursday.

The conference draws together key union delegates and officials from across Australia across all the CFMEU’s industries: construction and construction related manufacturing, forestry and forest products, pulp and paper, mining, and energy generation.

The conference will hear from a number of guest speakers today, including Professor Göran Roos speaking on manufacturing in a high cost environment, ANU Academic Paul Cleary on the influence of the mining sector on Australia’s economics and ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver and Assistant Secretary Tim Lyons.

National Secretary of the CFMEU Michael O’Connor said today that the conference being held in the national capital was symbolic of the union’s aspiration to take up the economic debate on behalf of working people to the nation’s leaders.

“This conference sees the union the most united it has been in its entire history. We can all see the impact the mining boom is having on mining communities as well as its distorting effect on other parts of the economy, such as manufacturing and construction.”

“Over the next few days the CFMEU will chart a course to increase its impact on significant national economic debates.”

“We want to ensure that the voices of our members and their families and communities are heard in Canberra and around the country.”