Furious CFMEU gears up for ‘long war’ with mass protest rallies across Qld

The militant CFMEU has launched an attack on the Federal government, threatening union revenge after it was plunged into administration, with mass protest rallies planned.

• CFMEU’s wild Qld history

The CFMEU has gone on the attack ahead of mass protest rallies across the state on Tuesday, threatening union revenge against federal Labor government and warning it is gearing up for “a long war”.

The militant building union was plunged into administration by the Albanese government on Friday. More than 270 CFMEU officials, including 21 in Queensland led by state secretary Michael Ravbar, were sacked.

CFMEU boss Michael Ravbar is one of the leaders to be terminated. Picture: Liam Kidston

On the eve of rallies in Brisbane and Cairns, the CFMEU’s Queensland/Northern Territory branch has launched an attack video from a fired-up member named “Gav” who described the assault on the union as like a scene from the “wild west”.

“They’re carting us straight to the hanging tree - judge, jury and executioner - without due process,” he said in the Facebook video.

“It’s like the wild west. Take you straight out of town, tie you up to a tree and hang ya.

“It’s darkest before the dawn. We’ve got a battle on our hands, maybe not a short battle, it could be a long war. We’re in it and we’ll stick together.

“This is an attack on the working class. Our membership will stand together and we will fight, we will not go away. We will not cop this, it’s just wrong. We will not be dragged straight to the hanging tree. It’s just crap.”

Mass protest rallies are planned across the state by the CFMEU. Picture: Dan Peled

Despite the CFMEU and leaders including Mr Ravbar being hit with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for unlawful activity over the years, “Gav” claimed the Queensland branch was run with the “utmost integrity”.

“To have all the crap smeared over the wall and by the media and by the government … it’s all a snow job on the union and I hate it, I’m angry about it,” he said.

“No judge, no judge, no jury, no proper process. There’s proper processes in place and they’re not being followed.”

He said no union members had been consulted before the CFMEU was placed in administration.

“But it’s all good for the shiny pants, the shiny shoes to decide what’s right for our future and our union,” he said.

“It’s a beat-up from the government (and) big business just to try to bury our union, What for? (To) Give them more power and control and try to push us down.

“They want to crush us. If they succeed in crushing us, look out everyone else.

“The message to the Labor Party is, watch your membership disappear. You’re all voted up to look after working people, do your job, run the country.

“Your membership is going to disappear, it’s a disgrace what youse (sic) are doing. And enjoy your time in opposition because you’re going to be there a bloody long time.”

Originally published as Furious CFMEU gears up for ‘long war’ with mass protest rallies across Qld