Call for IBAC to probe the Andrews government’s role in an escalating dispute between unions

The Andrews government’s role in a bitter union turf war on the West Gate Tunnel and other government projects has been referred to the state’s corruption watchdog for a potential probe.

The Andrews government’s role in a bitter union turf war on the West Gate Tunnel and other government projects has been referred to the state’s corruption watchdog for a potential probe.

Opposition industrial relations spokesman Nick Wakeling has written to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission about the escalating dispute.

Builders have been shedding workers and companies who are linked to rivals of the CFMEU.

This has largely involved people linked to the Australian Workers Union but also groups who are unaligned.

The militant CFMEU have been shutting down and causing chaos on projects while demanding that these groups be removed from work.

The union turf war may be probed by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. Picture: Aaron Francis

The West Gate Tunnel and a level crossing removal in Sunbury have become flashpoints in the fight, with dozens of workers kicked off sites in the last week.

The Andrews Government has been accused of allowing the behaviour on their projects and of telling major builders to deals with the union or risk missing out on billions of dollars in work they’re bidding for.

Mr Wakeling said it was time for the government’s role in the saga to be examined.

“Recent allegations of coercion involving preferential deals with the CFMEU are very concerning,” he said.

“The Victorian Opposition has written to IBAC seeking for these serious allegations to be investigated.

“The Andrews Government is facing an integrity crisis. This unfortunately is yet another example of this Government being forced to face scrutiny over its activities.”

A state government spokesman said: “What IBAC chooses to investigate is a matter for them”.

Industry sources have warned that builders are “folding” to union demands to protect themselves from costly delays.

Projects that create significant disruptions or are already delayed, such as the West Gate Tunnel, have allegedly been targeted because they are already sensitive to public scandals.

The Opposition will ask IBAC to investigate what role the state has played in these ongoing negotiations amid allegations of widespread industrial coercion.

Whistleblowers have claimed the state has been signalling to builders they could missed out the Melbourne Airport Rail or Suburban Rail Loop if they didn’t resolve the issue by caving to the CFMEU’s demands.

The union shutdown a level crossing removal at Gap Rd, Sunbury until AWU linked companies were removed.

Some were briefly reinstated after reports in the Herald Sun, only to be shoved off the project again two weeks later.

The project is causing massive disruption to the local community, with any delay sparking immense pressure on the builders.

IBAC has also been proving the government’s involvement in fire services reform, codenamed Operation Richmond, and allegations of misuse of taxpayer-funded staffers for party political activity.

West Gate Tunnel job losses amid union war

Dozens of workers have had jobs on government projects thrown into jeopardy due to an explosive union dispute.

The jobs losses are the latest in an escalating feud on taxpayer-funded jobs that has raised concerns of ongoing industrial coercion.

In the past week, job losses have been reported at a level crossing removal in Sunbury and the $10.8bn West Gate Tunnel, where the CFMEU and AWU are at war.

Senior figures in the construction industry say the demarcation battle has seen CFMEU target companies aligned to the Australian Workers’ Union and are using a massive team of delegates to cause chaos until their demands to remove them are met.

Job losses have been reported at the $10.8bn West Gate Tunnel Project. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Some of those impacted, who spoke to the Herald Sun anonymously for fear of retribution, said companies were shedding employees or losing contracts due to historic or perceived relationships with the AWU.

Five employees on the West Gate Tunnel were told they didn’t have roles any more, and sources said “they just happened to be AWU members”.

Multiple sources said workers at the West Gate Tunnel were hired through Zoom Recruitment, but were long-term permanent employees of the project.

One said there had been speculation they were going to be “sacked”, with CFMEU delegates warning workers had to be signed up to companies with which it had agreements.

The workers ranged from storeman to small crane operators and a carpenter, and all had links to the AWU.

Another source said alleged coercion by the CFMEU had also ramped up again at the Gap Rd level crossing removal site in Sunbury.

The Gap Rd level crossing removal site in Sunbury.

Up to 12 workers linked to Zoom and 10 to a company called Connect were reportedly ejected from that site.

Both taxpayer-funded jobs involve John Holland, who the sources said had “folded” to union demands rather than risk more delays.

“If all the principal contractors are going to get in bed with (the CFMEU) because it’s going to cost money from having jobs held up, then they are just getting into bed with the devil,” one said.

“If (Daniel) Andrews gets in again which is highly likely, there’s no stopping them.”

In June, the Herald Sun revealed businesses were dumped from taxpayer-funded projects as the CFMEU shut down work and made demands.

The government was accused allowing the behaviour on some of the state’s biggest projects by encouraging major companies to do deals with the union.

The Andrews government has been accused of allowing the behaviour to continue. Picture: David Crosling

Insiders also warned the state was signalling to companies that could miss out on projects such as the Melbourne Airport Rail if they didn’t agree to CFMEU demands.

Government officials are refusing to get involved publicly in the latest dispute, despite tactics sending a shockwave through the industry.

A spokeswoman for John Holland, which is building the tunnel with CPB, declined to comment but said the company has said previously they used different labour hire firms and mobilise or demobilise resources at different times.

Zoom and Connect did not respond to the Herald Sun.

Originally published as Call for IBAC to probe the Andrews government’s role in an escalating dispute between unions