Union 457 claims a beat-up, says ACTU ACTU President Ged Kearney says reports in the Murdoch press focusing on 457 visa workers hired by the union movement are a beat-up. Earlier this week, The Australian newspaper revealed Transport Workers Union secretary Tony Sheldon had hired three staff on the 457 scheme, despite previously saying some employers were using the visas as a "form of slavery." On Thursday, the Maritime Union of Australia said it too had engaged foreign workers from "time to time." Ms Kearney said there was no hypocrisy in unions hiring 457 workers, despite their campaign against alleged rorting of the scheme. Unions supported 457 visas for "absolute, genuine shortages" but were concerned about exploitation. "It is quite clear it seems to me that the Murdoch press is trying to stir this up as a hornet's nest," Ms Kearney told ABC radio. (Unions) need to show ... like any other employer that they need workers because there is a shortage. But they are not being exploited, clearly. The federal government seized on a spike in 457 visas to bolster claims the foreign worker scheme is being abused by employers. Immigration Brendan O'Connor, in releasing the latest monthly data, said there were 21.5 per cent more 457 visa holders in Australia in February 2013 compared to February 2012. The biggest growth was not in the mining states where there were skills shortages, he said. Rather it was in states with higher than national unemployment figures. In Tasmania, there had been 34 per cent growth, South Australia (12.4 per cent) and New South Wales (7.6 per cent). The hospitality sector, with the lowest paid 457 workers, was one of the biggest growth areas, Mr O'Connor said. "We believe in jobs for locals first, with temporary skilled workers brought in when there is no alternative," he said in a statement on Thursday. India, the UK and Ireland were top three countries of origin for visa holders.