CFMEU faces fresh bullying fines

The construction union stands to lose another $500,000 in fines when it is hauled before the federal court next month.

The construction union stands to lose another $500,000 in fines when it is hauled before the federal court next month, this time for allegedly blockading a Canberra work site, bullying behaviour and “foul language”.

Fair Work Building and Construction yesterday said eight officials including the ACT secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Dean Hall, broke the law 18 times when they blockaded a dance school construction site in Canberra for three days last June, after the head contractor apparently raised concerns over a proposed enterprise bargaining agreement.

Union officials placed vehicles in front of the gates and stood “shoulder to shoulder”, while subcontractors were told to go home, the FWBC said.

“When the police were called in response to the blockade, Mr Hall allegedly called the general manager and said ‘Did you call the police?’

The FWBC quoted Mr Hall as saying: “Don’t involve the f — king police. Do you want a war? I will f — k you over. I know a lot of people in this town and you won’t work in this town for long.’’

CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan yesterday said Mr that Hall had been “misquoted”.

Mr Noonan said: “There were a number of serious safety issues at the site, including asbestos products and the union had raised this. Also, the contractor was using large mobile cranes and concrete pumps in a carpark adjacent to a childcare centre. The union took the view that this was a completely unsafe working method.

“The case will be defended.’’

A prohibition notice at the site seen by The Australian confirms ACT Worksafe deemed the area unsafe in June last year.

“The health and safety of workers and other persons on or near the site are being put at risk from the work carried out,” the notice said.

The court can issue penalties of $10,200 for an individual and $51,000 for a union for each breach. FWBC is alleging the union — and its officials — each broke the law 18 times. The FWBC’s latest action comes after a federal court decision earlier this month fined the union and five officials $545,000.

The court warned the union risked deregistration after it threatened and tried to intimidate a company into signing an enterprise agreement.