Best Practice Industry Conditions trigger 6000 CFMEU and ETU members to march on Qld parliament

As thousands of tradies storm parliament to protest changes to Best Practice Industry Conditions, a union calendar reveals they will score two weeks off in April.

As thousands of CFMEU workers stormed parliament today over changes to the controversial sweetheart deal, a union calendar has revealed union members will score two weeks off due to a series of RDOs over Easter.

Thousands of tradies descended on parliament on Wednesday protesting changes to Best Practice Industry Conditions and right of entry to construction worksites across the state.

Under the banner “Building Trades Group,” members of the CFMEU, Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and Plumbers union marched from King George Square to Parliament House and along George St about 11am.

The Courier-Mail has been told at least 6000 union members were expected for the march.

A police escort and blockade across Alice St were in place as thousands of workers in hi-viz reached the gates of Parliament House, chanting “Stand up, Fight back” and “Union Power”.

Seven RDOs spaced over the Easter Long weekend will mean union members are off work between April 14 and April 26.

Productivity on Queensland construction sites will come to a halt in April, according to the CFMEU calendar, as members enjoy two weeks worth of RDO’s over the Easter period.

Seven RDOs spaced over the Easter Long weekend will mean union members are off work between April 14 and April 26.

There is one industry RDO set for each month, falling on a Monday.

Union members gather at Queens Gardens, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

A man in a black and white union shirt stood in front of the crowd and said Premier David Crisafulli and his deputy and Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie needed to “take their head out of their ass”.

“Look at the health and safety of workers in this country,” the speaker said.

“Look at the people that build the government jobs in this country in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, and make sure that they pay decent wages and make sure that their health and safety is paramount.”

The state government last year paused BPIC, claiming it would shave $17bn off upcoming infrastructure projects.

Mr Bleijie has flagged further changes that will reinstate 24-hour right-of-entry laws, prohibiting union delegates from entering work sites to inspect safety concerns without prior permission.

Union members gather at the RNA Showgrounds ahead of the march.

Union members stormed Brisbane on November 27 protesting what they coined the LNP’s “war on workers”.

It is understood union members working on John Holland projects were bussed from Toowoomba and Gatton this morning to attend the protest.

According to the CFMEU 2025 holiday calendar, union members had an industry RDO on Monday.

The march was briefly halted at the crossing outside the Treasury Casino as an old woman took a fall crossing the road. Picture: Liam Kidston

It comes just months after hundreds of union members were able to take three days off for the Melbourne Cup in November.

The CFMEU tradies working on the new Brisbane performing arts centre utilised three of their 26 rostered days off (RDO) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, which afforded them a five-day long weekend.

A CFMEU spokesman at the time said the RDO were often in “blocks” to provide workers “proper rest periods”.

“Every employer with a CFMEU EBA is well aware of when these RDOs will occur and therefore can plan production accordingly,” the spokesman said at the time.

Originally published as Best Practice Industry Conditions trigger 6000 CFMEU and ETU members to march on Qld parliament