Administrator blasts CFMEU over potentially illegal protest across Brisbane CBD

Members of the militant CFMEU who shut down the Brisbane CBD with pop-up protests have been told to return to work amid fears strike plans could last days.

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CFMEU administrator Mark Irving has ordered members involved in a protest that shut down Brisbane CBD this morning to “return to work” amid fears it could last for days.

Surprise CFMEU protests have sprung up across Brisbane city in response to the High Court’s refusing to overturn the militant union’s federal government takeover.

Hundreds of union members are gathered at multiple sites, blocking intersections and causing major traffic delays.

Mr Irving KC has since directed all members to halt the potentially illegal protest and return to work.

“The High Court decision is final,” he said.

“I have advised staff and members that any action this morning is likely to be unlawful industrial action, and I have directed them to return to work.

“I urge everyone to stay calm and focus on getting on with the job. It is time for all members, delegates and staff to work together to return the Union to membership control.”

A CFMEU protest in Bowen Hills.

Major traffic delays are being experienced across the Brisbane CBD.

It is understood the CFMEU plans to strike for several days.

The Courier-Mail has been told workers walked off the job across all building sites in the city including 360 Queen St, Waterfront Place at Eagle Street and the Performing Arts Centre.

There is a clause in CFMEU enterprise agreements that allows members to partake in surprise strike action for two-hours without prior notice.

However, under the current administration, Mr Irving would have needed to authorise this type of action.

The protest activity is therefore unlawful and not protected under the Fair Work Act.

Individual employees can now deduct a minimum of four hours of pay for each member who has participated in the strike.

CFMEU Administrator Mark Irving KC. Picture: Alex Coppel

If unlawful strike action continues for days, consequences for members will be at the discretion of employers.

Property Council of Australia executive director Jess Caire said Queensland could not afford extended unprotected strike action.

“Unprotected industrial action is leaving workers unpaid, bringing construction, including major projects and residential sites to a standstill, causing a massive loss of momentum and ultimately delaying getting roofs over Queenslanders’ heads at a time we can least afford it,” she said.

A CFMEU source has refuted claims that the protests were organised by ousted leaders Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham.

“What those trying to link this to the removed leadership fail to grasp is that the CFMEU has always been a member-led union,” he said.

“That’s the point missed by the ALP and the ACTU and exactly why the administration has been so fraught — you can’t just remove or replace leaders and expect to seize control of the union and pretend to members that you can represent them.”

Former National President of the CFMEU Jade Ingham addresses the crowd. Picture David Clark

He said members wanted to see the administration dismantled and the 21 sacked leaders, including Ravbar and Ingham, returned.

“The members are the union and right now, they’re angry, they’ve had enough,” he said.

“Their elected representatives have now tried every proper channel to resolve this.

“Now the members are demanding their return and I suspect industry will now be picking up the tab for Labor’s failed policy. But that’s on them.”

Mr Ingham told the crowd the High Court decision did not come as a surprise.

“We know that when we took that legal part of the campaign, it was always going to be an uphill battle,” he said.

“We decided it was a fight that we needed to have anyway…We’ve got to fight on all the fronts.”

More than 200 CFMEU members were seen marching on Queen Street in the Brisbane city, while 500 protesters were in Bowen Hills. Major delays had also been reported across Fortitude Valley.

Police had diverted traffic and confirmed Campbell Street, O’Connell Terrace and Hamilton Place were closed.

Work on the state’s largest infrastructure project Cross River Rail has been affected. CFMEU-aligned workers have walked off the job to join the mammoth protest.

Snap CFMEU protests have shut down multiple streets in the Brisbane CBD. Picture: Facebook

CFMEU members protest.

It comes after the former CFMEU boss Michael Ravbar lost a High Court appeal to overturn the forced administration of the militant union following an eight-month legal challenge.

The decision was slammed by Mr Ravbar, but celebrated by the state government, with a statement saying the decision had validated pausing BPIC on state infrastructure projects.

The protest against the administration has been orchestrated from the inside.

Members are standing with Mr Ravbar.

CFMEU members protest in Brisbane over the High Court's decision to upload the militant union's administration. Picture: Facebook

Multiple roads are closed across the CBD.

It is not yet clear how long the protest will last.

Individual worksites will determine no pay conditions for the pop up strike.

The administration became aware of the protests about 7am Thursday.

Union members chanted “stand up, fight back”, “we’ll never be defeated” and “Our union, fight back.”

Queensland Police Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy said authorities were aware of the pop-up protests.

Former CFMEU Queensland Secretary Michael Ravbar. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“The police will be in attendance and are in attendance here. It’s about two things for us,” he said.

“It’s about respecting everyone’s right to protest, whether it’s a pop up or a planned protest, and we’ll facilitate that to occur safely, but it’s also about keeping the community safe at the same time and minimising the disruption on them.

“And my message to people this morning, commuters, people moving around the Valley, is be aware that this is occurring, be aware that we’re trying to minimise that disruption, but this morning, we’re going to need a little bit of patience.

“We’re going to have a bit of a few delays on the road.”

Mr Ravbar has been contacted for comment.