The ACT's unions are demanding Labor politicians disclose any meetings with the Master Builders' Association, a move believed to have been sparked by a cabinet minister attending an awards' night.
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A letter from Unions ACT called on all Labor politicians to inform them within the month if they planned to attend events connected with the construction peak body.
It is understood to be targeted at minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, a member of the party's left faction, who attended the Master Builders' annual awards night on June 30. A spokesman for Ms Stephen-Smith said she did not receive the letter herself.
Right faction Labor backbencher Tara Cheyne also went to the event, as did Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur.
A photo of Ms Stephen-Smith, who is the Workplace Relations Minister, pictured on the night with Australian Building and Construction Commission chief Nigel Hadgkiss, was said to have drawn the ire of the union movement.
The letter, seen by Fairfax Media, said in light of the ACT branch's hostile attitude to Unions ACT, secretary Alex White wanted to be informed of all meetings between the Labor caucus and the industry group. Mr White has refused to comment.
"The MBA has repeatedly described unions' concerns regarding safety as 'illegitimate', 'crying wolf', 'malicious', 'bogus', 'a myth', a 'raised-fisted approach' amongst other things," the letter said.
"Since 2013 the MBA has refused to accept the recommendations of the Getting Home Safely report; the organisation was asked to reconsider this position in late 2016 and declined to do so. In June 2016 the MBA described the memorandum of understanding between the ACT government and Unions ACT as 'corrupt'.
"Unions ACT regards the statements, as well as the actions, of the MBA ACT to be extreme in nature and deeply damaging to good will between employer organisations and the union movement.
"Further, Unions ACT believes that in its current form, the MBA ACT cannot be considered a bona fide business representative organisation. Rather, it conducts itself as the industrial wing of the Liberal party.
"Given this, I respectfully request that you inform Unions ACT as soon as possible whether you have attended, or intended to participate in, any meetings with, or events or forums organised or sponsored by, the Master Builders Assocation."
The letter asked for a response before the Unions ACT executive meets on August 17.
Master Builders' Association executive director Kirk Coningham said there were over 1400 people at the awards night so the backlash from unions was "bizarre".
"We speak to Labor MLAs, Liberal MLAs and Greens MLAs all the time and have no issue," Mr Coningham said.
"It does seem strange but Unions ACT are quick to bully anyone who [doesn't] have the same world view as them".
The Community and Public Sector Union is also said to be frustrated with Ms Stephen-Smith's hardball tactics in the ACT public service enterprise agreement negotiations.
Ms Stephen-Smith renounced her CPSU membership upon entering the assembly but is still a member of the Australian Manufacturers Workers' Union.
Her spokesman said she swapped unions to minimise the conflict of interest but has been a proud union member for 15 years.
Labor MLAs Suzanne Orr and Yvette Berry are still members of the CPSU.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Tara Cheyne was still a member of the CPSU. Ms Cheyne renounced her CPSU membership on the Declarations of Interest register on April 7, 2017.
