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Key Points
- Workers will strike in solidarity with the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) on Tuesday.
- Union members have condemned the government’s action against the CFMEU.
- The CFMEU national secretary has criticised the government for bypassing the union to appoint an external administrator.
Workers will down tools in solidarity with the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) as it moves to challenge external administration in court.
Rallies will take place in capital cities on Tuesday after the union’s construction arm and all associated branches were taken over following allegations of criminal links and corruption.
Angry union members have taken to social media groups condemning the government’s action against the CFMEU.
The Maritime Union of Australia is backing the protest, calling the administration process an “attack on trade unionists’ rights and democracy”.
The Electrical Trades Union has also called for members to support the protests.
While people have a democratic right to peaceful protest, “the taking of unprotected industrial action is not lawful”, a spokesperson for the CFMEU administrator said.
“The CFMEU is no longer involved in organising any protest tomorrow,” they said.
CFMEU fighting back against new legislation
Last week, legislation giving the relevant minister the power to appoint an administrator passed the Senate with support from the Opposition.
The union has criticised the law, saying it stripped members of the right to a fair process and has flagged a legal fight.
“What else is new?” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on ABC Radio on Monday, when asked about a court challenge.
“That’s business as usual from the CFMEU,” he said.
Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Public and Active Transport, said she respected the people’s right to protest despite the looming rallies being unprotected.
She didn’t comment on whether the state government would seek penalties if workers illegally walked off its major project sites.
“We’ll be keeping an eye on these actions and working really closely with our project partners to ensure that we can overcome those challenges and ultimately keep our sites and Victorians safe,” Williams told reporters in Melbourne.
Victorian Opposition leader John Pesutto said the unprotected stoppages would lead to more costs and delays to already crisis-riddled major projects.
Former union boss John Setka said a deal had been struck with the federal government that he would resign to ensure the construction union was left alone.
Setka has accused Labor of betrayal.
Opposition workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said any alleged deal needed to be investigated and was “highly alarming”.
“Mr Albanese has serious questions to answer,” she said.
CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith has criticised the government for bypassing the union to appoint an external administrator, saying it stripped members of their right to due process.
“It is a sad indictment on the federal government and all sides of politics that have succumbed to anti-CFMEU rhetoric spouted by big business and amplified by conservative media outlets,” he said in a video message to members.
The union is in administration for a minimum of three years and up to five, and officials who frustrate or obstruct the process face hefty fines and jail time.