Thousands of workers across Australia will walk off construction sites to march “in solidarity with the CFMEU” after 270 staff were sacked.
The coalition of unions, known as the Construction Industry Unions Group, will urge its 85,000 Victorian members to walk off the job at 11am on Tuesday.
The unprotected industrial action will reportedly see hundreds of workers march “in solidarity with the CMFEU” from the city’s State Library.
Similar actions are known to be taking place across the country.
However, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has issued a warning to those planning to march, saying employers are legally required to deduct a minimum of four hours’ pay from employees who take part in unprotected industrial action.
“Please note that if an employee fails to attend work or stops working without permission from their employer, this conduct may constitute unprotected industrial action in contravention of the FW Act,” said a spokesperson for FWO.
‘Any person ‘knowingly engaged’ in a contravention of the FW Act is also deemed to have contravened that provision.
‘Where an employee has engaged in unprotected industrial action, the employer is required under the FW Act to deduct a minimum of four hours’ pay from the employee, even if the industrial action lasted less than four hours.’
Thousands of workers will down their tools and walk out of construction sites to march in solidarity with the embattled CFMEU (pictured, CFMEU trade unionists in April 2023)
John Setka (pictured) resigned as Victorian Secretary of the CMFEU on 12 July 2024
A source told the Herald of the Sun The march was “happening” and the coalition of unions was angry at the way the Victorian branch of the CFMEU had been treated.
They denied the bikers had infiltrated the branch and said members were concerned by speculation that employers could launch “golden” pay deals with the CFMEU.
This comes after the Victorian branch was placed under administration on August 12 following reports of bikers acting as shop stewards, including one official who earned $250,000 a year as a health and safety officer.
The union’s national office has now assumed executive control, overriding the state branch, following the resignation of John Setka as Victorian secretary.
Employment law expert Professor Andrew Stewart told Daily Mail Australia that CFMEU officials will continue to monitor Victorian construction sites.
“There is no legal effect at all, unlike what would happen if, as is currently unlikely, the union’s registration was cancelled,” the University of Adelaide academic said.
This means the CFMEU will continue to have absolute control over major projects, including the Victorian Labor government’s $90 billion Big Build program, which covers 165 road and rail projects.
More to come.
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