Victoria building shutdown looms over CFMEU bikies threat
Building unions in Victoria are warning of a snap 24-hour shutdown of the state’s construction industry as the fallout from the CFMEU bikie scandal intensifies.
Building unions in Victoria are warning of a snap 24-hour shutdown of the state’s construction industry in the wake of fears that organisers could be targeted by outlaw bikies and their associates as the fallout from the CFMEU scandal intensifies.
The CFMEU administration deployed security guards to union buildings in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on Tuesday in the wake of the threats that have generated serious concerns across the industry.
Officials from the Victorian Building Industry Group of Unions, representing more than 80,000 Victorian workers, held crisis talks throughout Tuesday before passing a resolution warning of an immediate shutdown if any officials are targeted.
“The Building Industry Group of Unions has become aware of credible threats within the construction industry, some of which have been directed at current-serving union officials,” the resolution, obtained by The Australian, says.
“The Victorian Building Industry Group of Unions wishes to make it abundantly clear that should these threats result in an assault on a serving BIG union official, delegate or HSR (health and safety representative), the BIG will call an immediate 24-hour industry stoppage without notice.”
“The BIG has a long history of fighting for safety, wages, and conditions for our members. These threats represent a direct attack on all BIG union members, including their safety and living standards.”
Sources said there were concerns in Melbourne about the potential conduct of outlaw motorcycle gang members and whether the safety of union officials could be in jeopardy. Federal Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt condemned the threats, declaring “every worker has the right to a safe workplace, including union officials”.
“It is appalling that union officials are being threatened by bikies and organised crime figures, who resent their corrupt behaviour coming to an end,” he said.
“The Albanese government fully supports the CFMEU administrator and union officials, who are working incredibly hard to eliminate corruption and ensure the union’s focus is the welfare of its members.”
The escalation of tensions come as ousted officials seek to exert their authority ahead of the High Court hearing a challenge to the administration.
CFMEU administrator Mark Irving last week called for a Fair Work probe into the union’s former NSW secretary Darren Greenfield for undermining the administration, alleging he had accessed CCTV footage inside the union’s Sydney building to monitor staff, threatened people if they co-operated with the administration and caused the removal of union delegates not loyal to him.
Mr Irving wrote to Fair Work Commission general manager Murray Furlong seeking the investigation into Mr Greenfield under new anti-avoidance laws that carry threats of fines of up to $187,000 or a maximum two years’ imprisonment for undermining the administration.
Sources said Mr Irving had told Mr Furlong that after Mr Greenfield was removed as NSW secretary, he continued to access live footage from two CCTV cameras inside the union’s Sydney office foyer and showed live footage on his phone to a group of organisers.
It is understood Mr Irving has told the commission Mr Greenfield’s potential misuse of the CCTV footage was designed to let current staff know that he was aware of who was going in and out of the office.
Mr Irving also alleged Mr Greenfield arranged meetings with CFMEU organisers off site and allegedly threatened people if they co-operated with the administration.
Sources said Mr Irving also wanted the commission to investigate whether Mr Greenfield had caused the removal of delegates who were not loyal to him.
Mr Irving also recently initiated investigations into the construction union’s NSW and Queensland branches, including any links to outlaw bikies and organised crime.
The probes are examining the involvement of outlaw motorcycle groups and organised crime in industrial relations in the construction industry.
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