Fresh allegations have emerged about several companies having made payments to the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) on Bill Shorten’s watch.

Chemical manufacturer Huntsman allegedly paid the union’s Victorian branch hundreds of thousands of dollars while Shorten was state secretary under an agreement to make sure workers “didn’t disrupt” operations, the Australian reported on Thursday.

Under the agreement, a Huntsman employee effectively became a union employee who reportedly helped the company close down a factory without disruption.

“We would terminate his role but the AWU would employ him and we would have him on our same site,” Huntsman regional human resources manager Richard Musumeci told the paper.

Mathias Cormann updates his ‘economic girlie man’ line for Bill Shorten. Link to video

The AWU is also alleged to have received more than $211,000 from building company Thiess John Holland while Shorten was secretary, shortly after he negotiated a favourable wage deal.

Fairfax Media reports Shorten negotiated the deal in 2005 over Melbourne’s EastLink toll road, saving the builders more than $100m.

Documents lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission show Thiess John Holland paid the money in donations and “other receipts” in 2006 and 2007.

A Labor source said it was common for companies to make payments for things like occupational health and safety training and trade training.

