Union thuggery on Queensland construction sites must be stopped, says Fair Work Building and Construction boss

THIS man has declared war on union thuggery as Queensland becomes the worst state for unauthorised industrial action.

HEAVY-handed union action is out of control in Queensland and the “rule of law” must be re-established, the head of Fair Work Building and Construction says.

The state has become the worst jurisdiction in Australia for unauthorised industrial action and “union thuggery”, overtaking Victoria and WA.

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But FWBC director Nigel Hadgkiss has declared a sweeping crackdown in Queensland, including recruiting more staff, getting them out from behind desks and on to construction sites as well as naming and shaming union officials who try to enter worksites without permits.

The industrial watchdog has 26 open investigations, including 21 into alleged dodgy action by unions. This compares to just three investigations current in Perth.

Investigations include the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre redevelopment site, where CFMEU members were recently banned by the Fair Work Commission from strike action for five months for unauthorised industrial action, as well as 300 workers walking off a significant Sunshine Coast building site two weeks ago.

Mr Hadgkiss, who served as deputy commissioner with the former Australian Building and Construction Commission until 2008, was appointed by the Abbott Government last October to head the FWBC. He said he had grave concerns about union activities and strike action in Queensland but more staff and inspectors were being recruited and would drag contractors and union officials who breached the rules before the Fair Work Commission.

Fair Work Building and Construction director Nigel Hadgkiss. Pic: Annette Dew

“We need arms and legs on building sites, visibility, rather than sitting in offices,” he said. “I’d much rather see them on building sites, fighting fire with fire as it were.”

Mr Hadgkiss said the agency would start uploading to its websites the names and photos of union officials who try to enter construction sites but do not have a valid right-of-entry permit.

“If they do not have a permit as such, they are a trespasser,” he said. “Contractors have a right to know who has a legitimate right to be there.”

He said Queensland was the worst jurisdiction for unlawful industrial conduct, particularly around abuse of right of entry for “safety” reasons, coercion, intimidation and no respect for freedom of association.

“I’m talking about head contractors standing over subcontractors, forcing them to have a union agreement, throwing off honest workers because they refuse to join. We’re investigating that on a daily basis in Queensland.”

Cold cases shut down by the previous FWBC administration are also expected to be reopened.

Master Builders Association construction policy director John Crittall said “Queensland is experiencing one of the worst periods of unlawful conduct in the past 30 years” and he welcomed the new investigative focus of the FWBC.