Construction workers set to walk off Big Build jobs on Wednesday in second major CFMEU rally

Taxpayers are likely to be billed millions of dollars due to a union rally on Wednesday that will paralyse the CBD and bring large parts of the Big Build to a halt.

Taxpayers are likely to be billed millions of dollars due to a union rally on Wednesday that will paralyse the CBD and bring large parts of the Big Build to a halt.

The costs will be claimed by global builders who lose a day’s productivity from stop-work action at major sites worth up to $100,000.

Projects such as the $14bn Metro Tunnel, $26bn North East Link and multibillion-dollar level-crossing removals program will have multiple sites closed, while smaller jobs will also be hit hard.

The decision to down tools was made by a group of building unions aligned with the militant CFMEU, which has been placed into administration due to its links to bikie gangs and organised crime, on top of allegations of kickbacks and coercion.

Unions, including the Electrical Trades Union, the plumbers’ union CEPU, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, have rallied behind the former executive of the CFMEU, which has been accused of creating what Premier Jacinta Allan ­described as a “rotten culture” that had to be uprooted.

CFMEU members march in Melbourne on August 27. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake

Construction workers will walk off Big Build jobs again on Wednesday. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake

Former secretary of the CFMEU John Setka has been defiant during the union’s downfall, addressing members at union-controlled sites such as the Footscray Hospital and Metro Tunnel station builds.

Wednesday’s rally would be the second in a month.

Tens of thousands of construction workers are set to walk off Big Build sites as part of the protest against the federal goverment placing the CFMEU into administration.

One source told the Saturday Herald Sun the next protest would be “bigger than the last”, in which a union estimate of 60,000 people shut down large parts of the CBD to march on state parliament.

Unions had considered calling for members to take part in 72 hours of unpaid action, but ­instead decided on a one-day walk off.

It is understood the Fair Work Commission has not ticked off this week’s protest, meaning it is unprotected ­action and workers can be docked pay for taking part.

One industrial relations source said the initial push for action to take place over three days would have burnt a serious hole in workers’ pockets.

“They are saying to their members, don’t get wages for 72 hours just to support our (union) corruption,” they said.

A state government spokesman said: “Attendance is a matter for our project partners. We will work with them to understand any impacts.

“We expect all parties to comply with any Fair Work Commission requirements. Our Big Build works are boosting the economy, supporting more than 50,000 jobs and transforming the way Victorians travel.”