Ex-CFMEU organiser blamed for union’s bikie problem
Union heavyweights have turned their attention to a former CFMEU organiser as the blame game continues over the problems bringing the militant union down.
Victoria
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Former CFMEU organiser Joe Myles has been blamed for the union’s problems with bikies following a spike in the use of casual “labour hire” on major projects.
The firebrand union supremo has been in the sights of some union heavyweights as they fight over who was responsible for problems at the union.
Mr Myles and former CFMEU secretary John Setka were behind a motion at ALP national conference to remove barriers for union officials accessing workplaces.
Previously, union officials had to pass “fit and proper person” tests to get onsite.
That change was blamed for an influx of outlaw motorcycle gang members, including former Hells Angels president Luke Moloney, and senior Mongol Tyrone Bell becoming CFMEU delegates.
There is no suggestion that either Mr Myles or Mr Setka were themselves involved in any gang activity.
Union insiders have revealed that as many as 1000 of the CFMEU’s 1800 members working on the Metro Rail tunnel in Melbourne were hired as casual labour.
Those workers were paid a 30 per cent loading for being casual, with a labour hire company also charging as much as 15 per cent on top of their wages.
The Metro Rail tunnel was originally budgeted to cost just under $11 billion, but costs blew out to $14 billion, with the project due to be finished by June next year.
Mr Myles did not respond to questions about the use of labour hire on the Metro Tunnel or the infiltration of bikies on CFMEU sites.
However a source with knowledge of union affairs said there was a “factional war looking to blame someone for the union’s collapse that had unfairly targeted Myles.”
Mr Myles also did not respond to questions about his lavish Mexican wedding to fellow former CFMEU official and City of Melbourne Councillor Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Myles in April.
The wedding was held at Casa Angelina, in Zihuatanejo, the town made famous in the film The Shawshank Redemption.
Destination wedding planner Jennifer Jaimes boasted about the April bash in an Instagram post alongside glamorous photographs of the couple.
“Elizabeth and Joe. How can you describe a couple who decides to get married in Mexico living in Australia and flying out all their friends to Zihuatanejo?? Adventurous! Fun and boldly!!!
“Bridal glam chosen and created by @tiggyballantyne (Doidge) was phenomenal!
“I was speechless when I saw her perfectly make up done by @isharonbeauty and her beautiful dress and hey THE VAIL.
“That day was so easy and full of Mexican accents and colourful table scape.”
Ms O’Sullivan-Myles did not respond to questions about the wedding or her role at the CFMEU.
Mr Myles was personally fined $44,000 in 2019 for a union blockade on the Regional Rail Link in Victoria in 2013.
He had blocked Boral concrete trucks from accessing the site and almost 50 cubic metres of concrete were wasted.
The CFMEU ran a fundraiser via its Facebook page to help Mr Myles pay the fine.
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Originally published as Ex-CFMEU organiser blamed for union’s bikie problem
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