By clinging on to power, CFMEU’s three amigos pour fuel on a raging bonfire

Say what you will about John Setka (and you can say plenty: domestic violence perpetrator, bully, enabler of underworld thugs and bikies), at least he had the sense to quit the CFMEU when it became clear the rot infesting his union could no longer be papered over.

The same can’t be said of certain other CFMEU construction division bosses who, rather than sacrifice themselves in the interests of their union members, cling on to their well-paid jobs as Rome burns.

CFMEU figures Derek Christopher, Michael Greenfield and his father, Darren Greenfield.Credit: The Age

Yes, things are truly a shambles when it’s Setka leading by example.

In my 20 years of exposing the corruption and misbehaviour of CEOs, politicians and others who hold power, usually even the most egotistical know when the jig is up.

Labor senator Sam Dastyari leapt fast and early when his dodgy dealings with Chinese donors were exposed, killing his own career in the interests of his beloved ALP. It was the right thing to do and, ultimately, redemptive.

In contrast, when I exposed Liberal politician Matthew Guy’s dinner with an alleged mafia godfather (seared into readers’ memories with the headline “Lobster with a mobster”), he clung on to the party’s Victorian leadership.

Still, Guy has nothing on war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith. He not only returned to the lion’s den to grab his hat, a la Bruce Lehrmann, but made sure he repeatedly tarnished the reputation of the nation’s special forces units while trying, corruptly, to repair his own.

Which brings me back to the CFMEU. Watching its national secretary Zach Smith repeatedly insist the union is committed to reform has been excruciating. It’s possible that Smith genuinely believes his rhetoric that the CFMEU can wash its own dirty laundry, but it remains utterly meaningless while three vastly more powerful and allegedly corrupt bosses within the union refuse to stand down.

They are NSW secretaries – and father-son duo – Darren and Michael Greenfield, and Victorian assistant secretary Derek Christopher.

These three amigos are, in the parlance of a construction site, taking the piss.

The Greenfields and Christopher face serious allegations they took kickbacks from building company bosses (aren’t the bosses meant to be the bad guys?). These allegations have not been proven in a court. However, they are credible. The Greenfields have been charged, while authorities have said Christopher is the subject of an active investigation that has gathered damning evidence.

Inherent in the allegations facing the three union leaders is the notion of betrayal – that they sold out their members by cutting secret deals with companies that risked privileging self-interest and corporate profits over worker rights.

They claim the Albanese government’s attempt to appoint independent administrators to the CFMEU’s construction branches is an effort to undermine its hardworking members. But it’s this selfish trio screwing union members. By clinging onto power, they not only pour fuel on a raging bonfire, but every day expose the hollowness of Smith’s bold plan to give the foxes swipe cards to the hen house.

While all three deny wrongdoing, any executive of any organisation – be it a company, union, sporting club, or political party – who cared even an iota about their members would vacate their leadership posts until the clouds clear.

CFMEU manufacturing division assistant secretary Leo Skourdoumbis and ACTU boss Sally McManus have both said this is precisely what should happen. Both are reminders that the vast majority of trade union leaders are honest and must be part of the CFMEU reform process. Both have shown bravery and integrity.

The publicity storm around Setka’s resignation obscured the fact that a fellow union official, a Bandidos bikie senior enforcer, resigned with him. Yep. You read it correctly. A Bandido was on the Victorian CFMEU branch’s powerful governing body.

At least this bikie has roared off on his Harley. In NSW, the Greenfields late last year turfed out one of the last remaining independent members of that state’s branch governing committee. They replaced him with a convicted drug dealer who was once charged after detectives discovered two CFMEU officials selling drugs out of a union car.

Now, Smith, the Greenfields and Christopher are likely trooping off to court to fight the union watchdog’s plans to replace them with independent administrators. This fight will involve a truck load of members’ money.

Even Setka, who had previously shown more resolve than a cockroach in a nuclear war, shuffled quietly off to try to save the union.

By placing their self-interest above that of the collective, the Greenfields and Christopher have all but guaranteed Labor has no choice but to appoint independent administrators to the union.

All three have made abundantly clear the only jobs and conditions they truly care about are their own. And everyone in the labour movement knows it.

Nick McKenzie is an Age investigative journalist who has twice been named the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year. A winner of 16 Walkley Awards, he investigates politics, business, foreign affairs, human rights and criminal justice.

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