200 CFMEU loyalists storm Queensland Council of Unions headquarters

More than 200 CFMEU loyalists have laid siege to the Queensland Council of Union headquarters after entering through a fire escape in a move to designed to “intimidate” its assistant secretary.

Hundreds of CFMEU members have stormed the Queensland Council of Unions headquarters. Picture: Liam Kidston

Hundreds of rogue CFMEU members stormed the Queensland Council of Unions headquarters on Tuesday, forcing the building into lockdown.

The group of 200 CFMEU loyalists targeted the QCU building at about 8am to intimidate QCU assistant secretary Jarrod Abbott’s potential appointment as the executive officer of the Queensland CFMEU branch.

Federal CFMEU Administrator Mark Irving KC denounced the siege as an “assault” on the Queensland union movement and vowed to hold the ringleaders to account.

It is understood members entered the fire escape stairwell to access the level five foyer where a QCU meeting was being held.

Mark Irving KC the CFMEU Administrator. Picture: Alex Coppel

The building was sent into lockdown and police were called.

There is no suggestion the protest was organised by the Building Trades Group who organised a BPIC rally to Parliament House later that morning.

QCU secretary Jacqueline King said the actions of the rogue members were a clear intimidation tactic.

“They had a message and were demanding to speak to Jarrod,” she said.

“They were clearly intended to intimidate or stop him from taking up the position.

“It’s very clear it was organised by former officials of the CFMEU.”

Police confirmed they were called to the Peel St building at 8.30am to disperse the growing crowd.

Members exited the building when asked. No charges were laid.

Union members in a protest march outside Parliament House, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Irving said the ringleaders had targeted their fellow trade unionists and would be held to account and security footage of the incident would be “forensically interrogated”.

“I will exercise the powers I have to deal with any of the ringleaders of this assault on the Queensland union movement’s peak body,” he said.

“No worker should be the subject of violent, intimidatory or menacing conduct at work. Such conduct deserves unequivocal condemnation.

“The targeting of fellow trade unionists is deplorable. I totally condemn these actions.”

Mr King also condemned the actions of the union members.

“Our building is a workplace for a whole range of people, community organisations, unions, people attending training courses, that is the disappointing thing,” she said.

“Those people were made to feel unsafe today by the actions of those union members.

“Every worker should feel safe at their workpiece, both psychologically and physically.”

Mr Abbott had been approached by the administration to take up the position of executive officer of the Queensland branch, but is yet to accept the offer.