‘Attack on one is an attack on all’: Building unions to walk off job

Construction will grind to a halt around the country on Tuesday when tens of thousands of angry workers walk off the job, as the federal government and the union movement’s peak body separately rejected “fanciful” claims of broken promises from former CFMEU state secretary John Setka.

Members of the CFMEU, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, Electrical Trades Union and the plumbers’ union (Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union) were preparing to stop work from 10am on Tuesday to protest against the Commonwealth’s takeover of the construction union.

It followed the Building Bad investigation by this masthead, 60 Minutes and The Australian Financial Review, which aired allegations of corruption, coercion and bikie infiltration in the union.

Tens of thousands of workers were planning to congregate outside the Trades Hall in Carlton, on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD, from 11am. The unprotected action is expected to stop work on some of the state government’s pipeline of infrastructure projects for the rest of the day.

One union source estimated about 30,000 people would attend the Melbourne rally. “It’ll be big,” another said. Melbourne protesters were expected to march to the Fair Work Commission’s office on Exhibition Street, said another union source unable to speak publicly.

Rallies were also planned at the NSW Parliament in Sydney, Queens Garden Park in Brisbane, the Parliament of South Australia in Adelaide, Woden Town Square in Canberra, Forest Chase in Perth, and in Cairns.

Administrators had deleted the CFMEU’s social media posts promoting the action after taking control of the accounts.

Every branch of the construction division was placed into administration on Friday after the Commonwealth secured the passage of legislation that would allow a takeover for up to three years.

Hundreds of union officers were stripped of their positions, which some members viewed as overreach given most representatives had not been directly accused of improper conduct and because all claims were yet to be tested.

“Attack on one is an attack on all,” the Victorian branch of the plumbers’ union said on Facebook. “We will not stand for what the federal government has done.”

Former CFMEU boss John Setka. He quit before the Building Bad investigation was published.Credit: Chris Hopkins

The Electrical Trades Union’s Victorian branch said royal commissions into other scandals had not amounted to much compared to action taken against the CFMEU based on “a handful of rumours and allegations”.

“We call on all jobs to stop at 10am this Tuesday to support the CFMEU and attend a rally … Let’s fight for our wages and conditions! Let’s fight for our future! Let’s all stand together!”

The Fair Work Ombudsman on Monday reminded employees, unions and employers of their obligations and warned it would monitor and investigate any potential breaches of workplace laws.

“This includes allegations of people engaging in or organising unprotected industrial action, or employers breaching their obligations around employee rights and protections,” a spokeswoman said.

“Please be aware that if an employee fails to attend the workplace or stops work without authorisation from their employer, this conduct may be unprotected industrial action in contravention of the Fair Work Act.”

Setka, in an interview with Seven’s Spotlight program on Sunday night, accused the federal government of betraying him in a secret deal. He claimed the Commonwealth had promised not to put his union into administration if he resigned as Victorian secretary.

He claimed this was agreed after talks between the union, former workplace relations minister Tony Burke, and “I assume [ACTU secretary] Sally McManus”.

Senator Murray Watt, who took over as Workplace Relations Minister last month, told ABC Breakfast this was “absolutely fanciful”.

“This idea from John Setka is utterly ridiculous, and it’s another desperate attempt from John Setka to distract attention away from the problems he has caused for his union and his members,” Watt said.

McManus also rejected the suggestion there had been a secret deal.

“John Setka’s statements are not accurate,” she said in a statement on Monday. “The ACTU’s position on this matter was clear and consistent both publicly and privately. Anyone accused of serious wrongdoing needed to stand aside. This was the counsel given to the CFMEU at the time. In this case, John was not the only person accused of serious wrongdoing.”

Senator Michaelia Cash, the federal opposition’s spokeswoman for employment and workplace relations, said Setka’s allegations were alarming.

“Mr Albanese needs to come clean about what he, his office, his ministers or anyone in his government knew about this alleged ‘secret deal’ with John Setka or anyone else in the CFMEU,” Cash said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed claims he had trembled in fear in a lift with Setka.

“Yeah, he was scared,” Setka told the program. “When someone starts trembling, you know they’re scared. But I hadn’t even said a word.”

Albanese told ABC radio in Sydney that this was “nonsense”.

Construction on the West Gate Tunnel Project in July.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

Master Builders Victoria chief executive Michaela Lihou said workers should be at their building sites as normal on Tuesday.

“Supporters of the union could have organised a rally at another time, outside working hours or on the weekend,” Lihou said in a statement.

“Disappointingly, the rally will lead to disruptions and lost productivity on various construction sites. And, at a time when we have work programs under pressure and at risk of being behind schedule and over budget, the timing could not be worse. We’ve communicated with our membership that employees who down tools to attend the rally may be taking unprotected industrial action. Unless they are authorised, employers will need to withhold pay for workers that attend in accordance with industrial laws.”

Victorian government minister Gabrielle Williams said the state was working closely with its Big Build partners to monitor and manage the impacts on its projects.

“We will be keeping an eye on these actions,” Williams said.

She said everyone had a right to protest but emphasised the need for all actions to be peaceful.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force would have a visible presence to ensure community safety and asked commuters be patient through the CBD between 10.30am and 1pm.

“Victoria Police respects the right for individuals to protest lawfully ... we ask they do so peacefully, without impacting the broader community.”

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