Sometimes it was a foot tap, other times a little kick under the table, but always there was a signal. A few seconds later, the CFMEU official would drop a hand down to accept $5000 in rolled-up $100 notes.
The now ousted CFMEU NSW leader Darren Greenfield and his son, branch deputy Michael, repeated this ritual six times over three years, collecting literal under-the-table payments and even the occasional envelope stuffed with cash at union offices or their home.
David Marin-GuzmanWorkplace correspondentDavid Marin-Guzman writes about industrial relations, workplace, policy and leadership from Sydney. Connect with David on Twitter. Email David at david.marin-guzman@afr.com
Nick McKenzieInvestigative reporterNick McKenzie is an Age investigative journalist who has three times been named the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year. A winner of 20 Walkley Awards, including the Gold Walkley, he investigates politics, business, foreign affairs and criminal justice. Email Nick at nickmckenzie@protonmail.com
