Construction workers plan protests over takeover move   
New Daily
Aug 26, 2024


Construction workers are set to protest their union being placed into administration.


Workers will down tools in solidarity with the CFMEU as it moves to challenge external administration in the courts.

Rallies will take place in capital cities on Tuesday after the union’s construction arm and all associated branches were taken over following allegations of criminal links and corruption.


Angry rank-and-file union members have taken to social media groups condemning the government’s action against the CFMEU.

The Maritime Union is backing the protest, calling the administration process an “attack on trade unionists’ rights and democracy”.

The Electrical Trades Union has also called for members to support the protests.

While people have a democratic right to peaceful protest “the taking of unprotected industrial action is not lawful”, a spokesperson for the CFMEU administrator said.

“The CFMEU is no longer involved in organising any protest tomorrow,” they said.

The union has also flagged a legal fight to the process.

“What else is new?” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on ABC Radio on Monday, when asked about a court challenge.

“That’s business as usual from the CFMEU.”



Victorian Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said she respected the people’s right to protest, despite the looming rallies being unprotected.

She wouldn’t be drawn on whether the state government would seek penalties if workers illegally walked off its major project sites.

“We’ll be keeping an eye on these actions and working really closely with our project partners to ensure that we can overcome those challenges and ultimately keep our sites and Victorians safe,” Williams told reporters in Melbourne.

The unprotected stoppages would lead to more costs and delays to already crisis-riddled major projects, Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said.

Former union boss John Setka claimed a deal had been struck with the federal government that he would resign to ensure the construction union was left alone.

He has accused Labor of betrayal.

Opposition workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said any alleged deal needed to be investigated and was “highly alarming”.

“Mr Albanese has serious questions to answer,” she said.

The prime minister’s office referred to Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt’s comments, who branded allegations of a deal “absolutely fanciful” and a desperate attempt from Mr Setka to distract from the problems within the union.

Albanese also dismissed a claim by Setka that he was “trembling” in a lift with him.

“Nonsense, I didn’t watch the interview and I don’t know why they gave him air time,” he said of the Seven Network’s report.

CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith has chastised the government for going over the top of the union to appoint an external administrator, saying it stripped members of their right to due process.

The union had taken the allegations seriously and commissioned a forensic audit, put in place a new code of conduct for delegates and stood down people accused of wrongdoing.

“It is a sad indictment on the federal government and all sides of politics that have succumbed to anti-CFMEU rhetoric spouted by big business and amplified by conservative media outlets,” he said in a defiant video message to members.

The union is in administration for a minimum of three years and up to five, and officials who frustrate or obstruct the process face hefty fines and jail time.

the cost of housing is directly related to the cost of construction .

these workers want more homelessness

City rallies planned in show of solidarity with CFMEU   

The New Daily
Aug 27, 2024


Tradies will walk off the job on Tuesday to protest the CFMEU being forced into administration.


Police have warned of possible disruptions as thousands of construction workers across Australia are expected to down tools in support of the CFMEU.

Rallies are planned for the nation’s capital cities on Tuesday after Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus placed the union into administration following allegations of links to organised crime and corruption.


However protesters risk having their pay docked if they walk off the job without permission, the Fair Work Ombudsman has warned.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said the planned protests could be a contravention of workplace laws.

“Where an employee has engaged in unprotected industrial action, the employer is required under the (Fair Work) Act to deduct a minimum of four hours wages from the employee, even if the industrial action was less than four hours,” it said.

Protesters in Canberra are expected to reach Parliament House at around 11am, the ABC reports.

Tensions between the CFMEU and the Albanese government have reached boiling point.

The CFMEU flagged it would launch a legal challenge of the take over, saying members were denied due process and democratic rights.

The Electrical Trades Union and maritime union backed the protest and urged their members to join rallies, describing the Federal Government’s action as an “attack on trade unionists’ rights”.   


In a social media post, the ETU slammed the treatment of the union in comparison to companies that weren’t placed into administration following royal commissions into banking and aged care.


“The CFMEU on the other hand — one of Australia’s strongest unions, is now forced straight into administration on the back of a handful of rumours and allegations,” the post reads.   

“The hypocrisy is staggering!!”

A spokesperson for the CFMEU administrator said “the taking of unprotected industrial action is not lawful”.

“The CFMEU is no longer involved in organising any protest tomorrow,” they said.

More than 200 CFMEU officials were terminated after the attorney-general placed its construction and general divisions into administration, alongside all of its state and territory branches.

Any union property possessed by officials such as cars, mobile phones, laptops and documents could be taken.

The administration period could last up to five years and officials found guilty of crimes would be banned for life and unable to become bargaining agents at other registered organisations without holding a fit-and-proper-person certificate.

Ex-CFMEU NSW secretary Darren Greenfield and his son Michael, a former union leader, will have their cases return to court in NSW over corruption charges.

The pair, who are on bail, are accused of accepting bribes from a building company for preferential treatment from the union and access to contracts.

To be fair majority these construction workers had no choice but to protest or the biking Delegate would have organised there family home firebomb.

You can't blame them for doing as they are told or ....else