Latest alleged union bullying reaches new low - shows Ensuring Integrity laws are needed

THE ANNOUNCEMENT of another fresh legal case against the CFMMEU and two of its officials is a further example of why the Parliament needs to support proposed Ensuring Integrity laws, according to Master Builders Australia. 

The ABCC has confirmed it is taking action based on allegations that the CFMMEU attempted to force a builder to stop using a company because its employees were members of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) and who operated under an AWU enterprise agreement. 

It is alleged that the CFMMEU threatened that concrete would not be delivered to the site, unless they engaged a company who was on their 'list of preferred contractors' and used workers who were CFMMEU members. 

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the allegations, involving threatened delays for construction of a new hospital, represented new lows. 

"While disappointing, these allegations come of no surprise given the long history of bullying behaviour deployed by some organisations and their officials,” Ms Wawn said. 

"But we've reached a new low when allegations involve the construction of a new community hospital.

"If proven, this case will show that building unions are willing to deny the entire community a new hospital just because some workers on site have joined a rival union. That's just wrong,” Ms Wawn said. 

"And this is on top of denying a business and its workers their lawful right to earn a living.

“The community would be outraged to know that if proven, the officials involved face a maximum fine of $12,600. 

"Building unions have been called out by Judges for considering penalties and fines as nothing more than a mere 'cost of doing business' and $12,600 wouldn't even be seen as a light slap on the wrist,” she said. 

"This is why we need the Ensuring Integrity laws – so there are consequences for those who deliberately and repeatedly do the wrong thing,” Ms Wawn said.

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