Cant wait for the ROYAL COMMISSION and hopefully the govt will deregister this thug bully union along the way as well.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/cfmeu-fined-125m-over-melbourne-grocon-protests/story-e6...
http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/8822580/union-hit-with-unprecedented-fine
BUILDERS have hailed a $1.25 million fine imposed on Australia’s biggest construction union as a “defining moment’’ for the industry.
The militant Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union could also face heavy court costs after being fined for a mixture of civil and criminal contempt offences on the Melbourne sites of construction giant Grocon in 2012 and 2013.
The fines against the CFMEU, handed down today by Justice Anthony Cavanough in the Supreme Court in Melbourne, constitute some of the heaviest penalties levied against a union.
Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz called the fines unprecedented.
The CFMEU was found to be in contempt for a series of blockades it instituted on the Emporium site in Melbourne’s CBD and at two other Grocon sites.
The protests were seen as retaliation for the company’s decision not to bow to union pressure to gain control over its building sites, although the CFMEU said at the time the conflict was over safety issues.
Grocon called the ruling a defining moment for the construction industry.
“It should be clear to the Victorian CFMEU that old-style bullying and intimidation has no place in a modern workplace or the broader union movement,’’ the company said in a statement.
“The construction industry must take a stand to eradicate this sort of lawless behaviour and require all players to simply obey the law.
“We welcome what is a defining moment today for the construction industry and the rule of law.’’
Master Builders Australia said the penalty “highlights that the unions officials do not behave like normal people or see themselves bound by the rule of law like everyone else’’.
“The Victorian Supreme Court judgment also reinforces the urgent need for the restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission to suppress acts of industrial thuggery,’’ said CEO Wilhelm Harnisch.
Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy said the fines were the “the strongest ruling of its kind against a union in Australia’’ and sent a strong message to the union.
Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews labelled the illegal CFMEU blockade appalling.
“The court has ruled no one is above the law,’’ he said.
“The fine should be paid in full and it should be paid promptly.
“What went on was appalling behaviour. It should not happen again.’’
Justice Cavanough also indicated the CFMEU would have to pay Grocon’s court costs, meaning the union is likely to be liable for at least another $1 million in total costs.
He fined the union $250,000 for each of four contempt offences on the Emporium site in August 2012, and another $250,000 for two related contempt matters on other sites — one in 2013.
The fines stem from a series of protests in which mounted police had to be called in to escort Grocon workers through CFMEU pickets and on to the Emporium site on August 28, 2012.
Last year the court found the CFMEUs blockades breached injunctions and the union was in contempt of court.
Documents tendered to the court show the CFMEU Victorian/Tasmanian branch has the means to pay the hefty fine.
The branch had cash at bank and short-term deposits of $12.38 million with net assets of $51.93 million, according to the documents
