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CFMEU

Today

The growing power of the super sector raises some big questions.

CFMEU’s return to Cbus board shows it’s time for change

Appointing union officials as directors at a time when super fund boards are screaming out for specialist skills raises questions about the need for change.

  • James Thomson

Yesterday

The CFMEU has gone to the High Court to challenge laws placing it into administration.

$11m in fines, 1000 breaches: Labor defends CFMEU crackdown in court

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has cited $10.6 million in fines against the CFMEU as part of the government’s defence of laws that forced the union into administration.

  • David Marin-Guzman

This Month

Two fund directors appointed by the union have been removed from their roles.

How CFMEU wields control of a $1.2b workers’ redundancy fund

The chief executive of Incolink warned an employer group that the union could deprive it of tens of millions of dollars if they did not agree to demands.

  • David Marin-Guzman
Cbus chief executive Kristian Fok appears before the senate on Thursday.

ASIC warns directors could be on hook for super customer failures

The warning came as Cbus CEO Kristian Fok apologised to members but defended the fund’s deep financial links to the CFMEU.

  • Hannah Wootton
Sacked CFMEU NSW secretary Darren Greenfield speaking at the rally.

CFMEU rally throws down gauntlet despite smaller turnout

A rogue CFMEU delegate called on workers to ignore messages from the union’s administrator, while a Greens MP praised protesters for “not listening” to his warnings.

  • David Marin-Guzman
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Construction workers attending Lendlease’s One Circular Quay tower on Monday morning.

Fears that $10b in building sites will grind to a halt on Tuesday

The Electrical Trades Union visited Lendlease, Multiplex and Mirvac sites to urge workers to attend an industry rally protesting the CFMEU administration.

  • David Marin-Guzman
CFMEU protestors at the last rally protesting the administration in September.

Police investigate intimidation claim against CFMEU organiser

The organiser with the NSW union, regarded as the most rogue branch under the administration, had his house vandalised with the words ‘CFMEU dog’.

  • David Marin-Guzman
CFMEU delegates and members protest the union’s administration at a mass rally in August.

Rogue CFMEU protesters defy administrator’s warning over walkout

CFMEU protesters in NSW have rejected warnings that they will face consequences if they attend a mass rally next week against the administration.

  • David Marin-Guzman
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt during an estimates hearing on employment on Wednesday.

AFP sets up operation to investigate CFMEU corruption

The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it has multiple investigations under way into CFMEU officials based on “voluminous” material it’s received.

  • David Marin-Guzman
CFMEU delegate Denis McNamara speaking at the Sydney rally in August.

CFMEU delegates’ third mass walkout sparks concerns over NSW branch

The rally to protest the CFMEU administration has put industry pressure on the administrator to act on the “out of control” NSW branch.

  • David Marin-Guzman

October

Cbus CIO Brett Chatfield has presided over a calamitous period for the industry super fund.

Jobs go as troubled industry super giant Cbus rolls out restructure

Street Talk asked Cbus how many roles reported to chief investment officer Brett Chatfield now versus his appointment in June 2023.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Former ABCC chief Nigel Hadgkiss said no more “expensive” royal commissions into the CFMEU and the construction industry were necessary.

Labor’s claimed ignorance of CFMEU thuggery ‘outlandish’: ex-ABCC boss

The former head of the building industry watchdog said he repeatedly alerted parliament to union links with bikies and organised crime over two decades. 

  • Updated
  • David Marin-Guzman
The CFMEU picket line outside the Roma Street Cross River Rail site in July.

CFMEU workers not striking, just scared: umpire

The CFMEU’s argument that workers were absent due to a media-driven fear of crossing its picket lines could open up a loophole for unlawful strikes, employers warn.

  • David Marin-Guzman
CFMEU delegate Luke Allen leaves the Victoria Cross Metro Station site.

CFMEU mass walkouts endorsed at secret construction site meeting

Delegates are holding meetings at NSW government construction sites to vote on industrial action to protest against the union’s administration.

  • David Marin-Guzman

Rebel unions threaten to fund independent candidates to challenge Labor

The exiled CFMEU leadership is planning more mass walkouts of construction workers, as blue-collar unionists consider changes to future political funding.

  • David Marin-Guzman and Gus McCubbing
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AFP investigating CFMEU corruption claims not publicly known

Police are investigating construction industry claims that are not “in the public domain”; PM dodges $4.3m home purchase questions. How the day unfolded.

  • Updated
  • Lucy Slade
ACTU boss Sally McManus said moving between living places was the cost of the tackling corruption.

Sally McManus has two black belts, but lives at risk of CFMEU fallout

The ACTU secretary has been forced to live in different places and vary her routine due to security concerns arising from the crackdown on the union.

  • David Marin-Guzman
Bruce Lehrmann leaves court after losing his defamation case in Sydney on Monday.

Lehrmann ‘Australia’s most hated man’ as Ten seeks $200k

Network Ten is demanding Bruce Lehrmann pay $200,000 before he can continue his appeal; union boss forced to hide amid CFMEU crackdown. How the day unfolded.

  • Updated
  • Lucy Slade

September

CFMEU delegates investigated over ‘steeling’ claims

One of the union delegates under investigation for allegedly selling steel from a major government site is a former member of the infamous Bra Boys surf gang.

  • David Marin-Guzman
Qube employees in Melbourne temporarily refused to handle goods carried on the Turandot as part of strike action.

Qube sues own employees for damages for blocking ship services

A wage dispute between logistics group Qube and wharfies in Melbourne has escalated after the company sued more than 20 union members.

  • Jenny Wiggins and David Marin-Guzman

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/cfmeu-1myw