Thousands of construction workers have walked off job sites around the country in support of the embattled CFMEU. In Sydney's CBD, union members downed the tools and picked up flags and megaphones to make their message heard in front of New South Wales parliament. But the rallies drew fresh warnings about the legality of the action.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00A call to arms heard throughout the city. Thousands of tradies descended upon Sydney's
00:14CBD, their presence shutting down Macquarie Street.
00:19We're just trying to go to work safe, go home to our families, see if we can use the only
00:23organisation that looks after you when you're at work.
00:26The protest was in response to the federal government placing the construction branch
00:30into administration. It was sparked by allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration within
00:37inner ranks.
00:38I think it's a dangerous precedent that will befall all unions if we let this happen.
00:45In Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Cairns, the message was clear.
00:49We built this city!
00:52But it wasn't just tradies, other unions were out in force.
00:56I don't even belong to the CMFEU to tell you the truth, but I believe in the right to speak
01:02up.
01:03Construction workers have travelled from across NSW to be here today. Many of them are frustrated
01:09and they're calling on the federal government to put the CFMEU back into union hands.
01:14In Sydney, two prominent union figures had their matter heard in court. Darren Greenfield
01:21and Michael Greenfield accused of corruption within NSW ranks.
01:26I'd like to see them get a fair trial. I think it's only fair. I don't think it should just
01:32be pushed into it like this.
01:33Protesters were warned striking today was illegal.
01:37If there is unprotected industrial action, then there are consequences for that.
01:42But many were undeterred.
01:44We're not thugs. We are workers. We have families. Now we're fighting for our genuine rights.
01:52Are we going to win? Are we going to fight? Are we going to win?
01:59A sign of what may be to come.