Word of warning: A word could of the ABCC's allegations against the CFMEU. Click for larger image.
The Australian Building and Construction Commissioner has commenced legal action against the CFMEU and six of its organisers following allegations of illegal industrial action and coercion at Drouin South Primary School.
The legal action addresses an alleged 43 breaches of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 across the state in November 2010.
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Alleged breaches include pressuring Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd to employ certain CFMEU members and illegal industrial action at five major Victorian construction projects, including work at Drouin South Primary.
The alleged illegal strike action at Drouin South Primary occurred at 7.30am on November 11 after CFMEU organiser John Parker attended the site.
It is alleged that without giving prior notice, Mr Parker conducted a meeting with Abigroup employees and subcontractors at the site and directed the employees and subcontractors to strike for the day.
The workers went on strike for the remainder of the day.
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The Warragul Citizen contacted the CFMEU for comment several hours ago but is yet to receive a response.
UPDATE: 8 May 2012, 11.55pm:
CFMEU Victorian Secretary Bill Oliver has released a statement saying the ABCC’s allegations are based on falsified documents and misleading evidence.
“The ABCC are ideological motivated, not legally motivated. If they were legally motivated, they wouldn’t falsify documents, issue misleading evidence and attempt to bring this before courts,” Mr Oliver said.
“No other conclusion regarding these witch-hunt related charges could be reached, given their record of politically motivated failures, waste of money and attempts to castigate our members and officials.”
