John Setka’s CFMEU branch has been accused of “unconscionable” conduct by issuing 400 entry notices against a builder in just three months, disrupting projects.
John Setka’s construction union and seven of his officials are facing court over a three-month blitz they waged against a builder who refused to sign a union agreement, allegedly shutting off power, blocking trucks and trying to shirt-front a manager.
The total notices were 10 times those issued in the previous 18 months, when just 40 were issued – a figure exceeded within the first two days of the union’s campaign, according to court documents. Officials would enter an apartment project’s “no go” zone, the ABCC claimed, and one allegedly tried to physically “shirt-front” a safety co-ordinator who was telling him to leave, while another caused an excavator to stop.At one point, at a Croydon project, a CFMEU official allegedly accessed a site manager’s computer and took photos of his emails after he was left alone in the office for five minutes.
When Ironside said it could not afford a CFMEU EBA, the union officials allegedly said they would draft a “bespoke” agreement for Ironside to consider.