It took years and work across several newsrooms to finally expose the links between the union and organised crime.
You often know you are on to a good story when you are inundated with tip-offs after its publication, suggesting you have just skimmed the surface. Such was the case with our Building Bad investigation.
My colleague Ben Schneiders, who was part of the Building Bad team, has been investigating the CFMEU for more than a decade. I’ve been at it since 2008. Both of us have copped serious threats.We wanted to expose – like never before – the activities of the gangland figures who were working in an unholy alliance with the union.
So convinced was the union that it could control its gangland allies, that patched bikes, known gangsters and thugs were appointed as union delegates on some of the most important building projects in Melbourne and Sydney, including Labor’s signature Big Build projects across Victoria. Prior to Ercan’s jailing for violent standover activity, we obtained surveillance vision of him meeting with union officials and trying to strike a CFMEU-facilitated deal with a large building company. The deal would extend to paying Ercan and hiring subcontractors with questionable records of paying their employees.
Also vital was hearing from brave unionists, who blew the whistle on the culture of thuggery, violence and dodgy dealings that had become pervasive in the building industry and the union they had honourably served. This extended to allowing an enemy of good workers’ pay and conditions, the labour hire sector, to boom on state government projects.
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