Shock golden handshakes for CFMEU despite corruption probe

Redundancy packages worth hundreds of thousands are being offered to CFMEU officials, with leaked emails showing workers’ frustration at the lack of action on corruption crackdown.

Exclusive: Gold plated redundancy packages worth hundreds of thousands of dollars are being offered to CFMEU officials and back room staff across the country.

The cashed up union has been clearing the decks after it was plunged into administration amid claims it had been infiltrated by bikies.

Sources claim departing union officials and staff can be eligible for at least four weeks pay per year of service, plus a minimum three-month bonus for signing up.

The deal comes with a nondisclosure agreement which prevents redundant workers from criticising the union, it is alleged.

Former CFMEU boss John Setka was paid $450,000 to leave the Victorian union, while assistant branch secretary Elias Spernovasilis and Derek Christopher were paid more than $250,000 each.

Former CFMEU Victorian secretary John Setka. Picture: NewsWire/ Roy VanDerVegt

The CFMEU’s administrator Mark Irving, who has control of the union’s $310 million war chest, refused to comment when asked how much CFMEU officials, organisers and office staff were being given.

He also did not respond when asked if the money, which comes with a reduced tax rate, was being offered to anyone at the union regardless of whether they were accused of any wrongdoing.

Workers had been given until Monday this week, June 30, to take up the offer, sources claim, before Mr Irving began to swing the axe after being emboldened by the High Court win that removed a challenge to his authority.

However, leaked emails have revealed that workers have been frustrated at the lack of action by Mr Irving and his administration to crack down on corruption.

A worker who received threatening emails from private numbers where he was called a “traitor and a dog” after complaining about the union leadership said he was “black-listed”.

“I’ve been black-listed, had my employment threatened, had my employer threatened and my workmates along with me,” the email to Mr Irving stated.

“I didn’t cross picket lines, scab or undercut conditions. Yet I have suffered greatly because of … individuals inside the CFMEU VIC TAS branch.

“They despised having their incompetence exposed.”

Darren Greenfield. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Michael Ravbar. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Another union member, who asked not to be named, sent questions to Mr Irving in February asking for details about redundancy payments.

The questions sought details of whether Mr Setka, Mr Christopher and another former official Joe Myles had received redundancy payments.

A separate email sought information about “corrupt, nepotistic practices” at the CFMEU.

The future of the union, and its cash reserves remain under a cloud, with Mr Irving put in place for up to five years.

Mr Setka has stepped down from the Victorian branch, while former NSW secretary Darren Greenfield pleaded guilty to bribery and corruption charges in April after receiving bribes from a building company.

Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham were forced out of the Queensland branch of the CFMEU.

The Victorian branch of the union has not had an election for at least a decade, with no clear ticket likely to form to take over once it was handed back to members.

Former Victorian assistant secretary Shaun Reardon, who quit in 2019, has rebuffed approaches from industry sources to run.

Mr Reardon did not respond to requests for comment.

Originally published as Shock golden handshakes for CFMEU despite corruption probe