CFMEU flexes muscles at big-ticket Gold Coast construction sites as city enters boom

CFMEU flags are flying over $1.5 billion worth of Gold Coast construction projects, with labour bosses flexing their muscles as city enters development boom.

CFMEU union flag flying at the Jupiters construction site, Broadbeach. Photo: Jerad Williams.

UNION flags are flying over more than $1.5 billion worth of Gold Coast construction sites, with labour bosses flexing their muscles as the city enters a development boom.

At the heart of the resurgence is the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, which has already had an impact on two major sites: the $670 million Pacific Fair redevelopment and the $122 million Carrara sports centre project.

The CFMEU union flag at the The Beach Appartments construction site, Broadbeach. Photo: Jerad Williams.

CFMEU flags also flutter over the $950 million Jewel development, the $345 million Jupiters Hotel & Casino redevelopment and the $140 million The Beach apartment site.

With more than $10 billion in proposed development in the pipeline, union bosses know their construction workers hold the upper hand after years of their industry languishing in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Political observers say the powerful unions are also emboldened by knowing they have the support of the State Government, which is keeping itself at arm’s length from industrial disputes.

This is despite union tactics threatening the deadline for projects to be finished in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The CFMEU union flag flying at the Jewel construction site, Surfers Paradise. Photo: Jerad Williams

While workers in other industries battle to gain pay rises in line with the 1.3 per cent inflation rate, those at the Metricon Stadium site at Carrara have been skipping up to four hours of work a day — on full pay — for more than three weeks as they attempt to wrestle a 5 per cent rise from contractor Hansen Yuncken.

The CFMEU union flag flying at the Jupiters construction site, Broadbeach. Photo: Jerad Williams

“Hansen Yuncken has remained open to consultation with the CFMEU in attempting to negotiate terms of an enterprise agreement that enables us to tender for future Federal Government work,” a spokesman told the Bulletin.

“The Carrara site has remained open and available for work throughout the recent action. All we want to do is deliver a world-class sporting facility for the Gold Coast community.”

Construction industry leaders, none of whom would be named for fear of retribution, said the bullying tactics had delayed at least one development, a large residential project on the southern Gold Coast, as the labour costs made it uneconomic.

The CFMEU union flag flying at the The Beach Appartments construction site, Broadbeach. Photo: Jerad Williams

CFMEU representatives could not be contacted by the Gold Coast Bulletin.

One construction source said the industry’s most powerful people were afraid to speak publicly for fear of “getting on their radar” and facing financial ruin.

“Certain jobs haven’t gone ahead because of union involvement — they’ve pushed the price up too high,” they said.

“So then the workers don’t have any job at all.”