CFMEU ad says ‘Dan might be a pr--k, but he’s a p---k who’s delivering for construction workers’

The construction union has stepped up its campaign to get Labor re-elected, telling members “if the Libs get in, we’re f---ed”.

The Premier is described in the ad as ‘a pr--k who’s delivering for construction workers’. Picture: Luis Ascui

Footage has emerged of a CFMEU figure urging construction workers to vote Labor or risk losing their jobs, incorrectly claiming the Opposition would stop building schools and hospitals.

The man also urges people to vote for the party “regardless of what we think about Dan Andrews” and comes just days after the union put out posters calling the premier a “prick”.

The footage, posted on Instagram page Discernable, alleges the recording was made during a “toolbox talk” at a worksite on Friday morning.

In a speech, the man references a recent event with union secretaries which Mr Andrews spoke at and urges the workers to vote for the party.

“Regardless of what we think about Dan Andrews, everyone’s got their own opinion, we actually need Labor to get in,” he said.

“Matthew Guy said he’s going to stop the rail crossing removals.

“He’ll stop the schools being built, he’ll stop the hospitals being built.”

The Liberals and Nationals have committed to end “wasteful spending” but have made no pledges to stop schools and hospitals being built.

Instead, they have said they will shelve the Suburban Rail Loop and spend $35bn in new hospitals and health system upgrades.

An audit would also be conducted on major projects in an effort to address cost blowouts.

Labor has committed to remove 110 level crossings by 2030, building on their previous election promises to remove 85.

The Coaliton has not matched this new commitment, but have pledged multiple level crossing projects as part of railway upgrades and extensions out to Baxter and Clyde.

Victorian Labor has repeatedly threatened that the Coalition would cut infrastructure and services as part of their pre-election attacks.

To justify this, they have largely drawn comparisons to former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett or to any cuts made during the single term of the Baillieu and Napthine governments.

Over the past few days, the CFMEU has joined the fray with a campaign urging construction workers to vote Labor even if they do not like Mr Andrews.

Insiders believe this is partly linked to resentment against the state government over the Covid pandemic.

Late last year, riots broke out across Melbourne after a protest outside the CFMEU head office against vaccine mandates and other rules spiralled out of control.

In the video, the CFMEU figures acknowledge that some workers may still dislike the premier.

“The message from our union leaders, executives is you’re not voting for Dan Andrews you’re voting for your f---ing job,” he said.

“Everyone’s gonna have their own opinion and that’s fine

At the moment they said we’ve got work for 10 to 15 years

“If Liberal do get in, we’re f---ed.”

The man also said that CFMEU boss John Setka had told him “we don’t tell anybody how to vote”.

“A lot of people come in from countries that were oppressed,” he said.

“We’re not about to tell them how to f---ing vote

“Earl Setches (plumbing union boss) is bit different, he says ‘I’m telling you to fucking vote Labor’.”

It comes after the union dubbed the Premier a “p---k” in posters put up at building sites across Melbourne.

“Dan might be a p---k, but he’s a p---k who’s delivering for construction workers,” the poster reads.

“Labor will keep you in work for another 30 years.”

Other posters being circulated by the CFMEU question the government’s Covid restrictions.

“A lot of us didn’t agree with Dan during the pandemic,” it reads.

“Fair enough but (he) kept us working and providing for our families.

“Only Labor will build infrastructure and hospitals, keeping construction in work.”

The CFMEU’s poster that’s been placed in building sites across Melbourne.

The ad highlights more than $100bn in funding for major infrastructure projects including the Suburban Rail Loop which the state opposition has vowed to scrap if elected.

Construction sources say union representatives have been warning against a vote for the Liberals “because they don’t build anything”.

It comes following a meeting between union boss John Setka, other senior construction figures and Treasurer Tim Pallas and senior minister Ben Carroll last week.

Sources familiar with the lunch, at Carlton’s Epocha, said “ALP fundraising” was central to the meeting.

CFMEU boss John Setka recently met with Labor’s Tim Pallas and Ben Carroll. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The call to support Labor comes despite a tense relationship between the union and the government throughout the pandemic.

In September last year thousands of protesters, including construction workers, rallied against ongoing lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations.

On several occasions chaos erupted outside the CFMEU office on Elizabeth St.

Hundreds of protesters turned on the union, furious it had not done more to oppose mandatory vaccine rules.

The protesters attempted to storm the building, kicking in doors, smashing glass and brawling as they rounded on Mr Setka.

The union accused “outside extremists” of manipulating its members, saying the angry mob had been “infiltrated by neo-Nazis”.

“They’re not really unionists, they’re just the scum of the earth as far as I’m concerned,” Mr Setka said at the time.

Originally published as CFMEU ad says ‘Dan might be a pr--k, but he’s a p---k who’s delivering for construction workers’