‘Is the CFMEU wanting to hold up all building projects in Victoria?’

The CFMEU is demanding hundreds of surveyors on work sites do deals with the miltant union and sign up, leading to claims of bullying.

There are claims of bullying amid a new union turf war. Picture: Ian Currie

Construction sites across Victoria are grinding to a halt after the state’s militant building launched a new turf war, prompting accusations of bullying tactics.

The CFMEU has launched an unprecedented bid to grow its power base by demanding that hundreds of surveyors on work sites do deals with them and join the union.

The refusal to allow the workers on jobs unless they agree has stopped work on projects and shut staff out of sites unless they meet their demands.

Builders have been looking for workarounds and crisis meetings were held late last week to try and solve the issue and prevent massive cost blowouts and delays.

The industry has been blindsided by the move because surveyors are not believed to be covered under the union’s workplace protection powers.

But the CFMEU is demanding they sign up anyway and building companies already faced with labour shortages and rising costs have been urging surveyors to cave in.

The move has prompted the Association of Consulting Surveyors to speak out.

Chief executive Michelle Blicavs said surveyors were vital to every construction job.

“No building project starts or finishes without a surveyor,” she said.

The CFMEU head office in Melbourne. Picture: Ian Currie

“Is the CFMEU wanting to hold up all building projects in Victoria?

“We encourage them to contact our association to have a discussion rather than using bullying tactics with small businesses trying to make a living.

“We have a skills shortage, all this is going to do is delay work.”

It remains unclear if the CFMEU has launched the push as part of a bid to drive up their membership or if it is part of a broader negotiating tactic.

A broad range of building sites have been affected, including government projects.

But Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan on Sunday refused to be drawn on whether the union’s demands have impacted any of the government’s projects.

“It’s our expectation that these matters are resolved at the worksite level,” she said.

“What goes on (at) work sites is a matter between the contractors and the workforce that they engage with.

“We’ve got a really busy schedule of works and we expect our projects to be completed on time ... and that remains our expectation with all of our projects.”

Ms Allan added that the state government expects “no intimidatory practices” to be employed at work sites across the state.

Ms Blicavs said there needed to be a better understanding of the role of surveyors.

“We are often the consultant on the project and we (already) have an institution that represents our professionals,” she said.

“We don’t understand what the issue is here that the CFMEU seems to be raising.

“We don’t believe their remit covers our staff.”

Major projects like the Metro Tunnel, West Gate Tunnel and North East Link all rely regularly on the use of surveyors.

Construction workers gather outside CFMEU offices in Melbourne in September 2021 to protest against mandatory vaccinations for tradies on building sites. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It comes as the CFMEU has been waging a long-running turf war with the Australian Workers Union and for control of the industry more broadly.

Over the past 12 months, it has shut down level crossing removals and other disruptive projects until AWU-linked or unaligned companies are replaced with businesses friendly to the union.

The North East Link has been a flashpoint for this dispute as construction ramps up and lucrative work contracts become available.

Insiders have described it as blatant industrial coercion, with large builders giving in to the union’s demands to avoid costly delays or miss out on future contracts.

Last year, the Opposition wrote the state’s anti-corruption watchdog asking it to examine the issue on taxpayer-funded projects.