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Bald Hill wind farm builder threatened by union, say court papers
Credit: Nick Toscano, Workplace Reporter for The Age | July 11, 2014 | www.smh.com.au ~~
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Construction union bosses allegedly warned a builder that “we will f— you over” and that it was “going to get ugly” if the company did not sign a pay deal, according to court documents.
The fresh allegations against Australia’s biggest construction union have surfaced just days after a royal commission heard damning testimony implicating union officials with claims of blackmail, threats and intimidation on Melbourne work sites.
In a Federal Court statement of claim, the Fair Work Building and Construction agency alleges that the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and one of its officials, Gareth Stephenson, engaged in potentially illegal “coercive conduct” on the $400 million Bald Hills wind farm in South Gippsland.
The agency claims that the threats were made to construction company Hazell Bros, which had refused to sign an enterprise agreement.
Mr Stephenson is said to have told Hazell Bros that he felt he had been “s— on personally”, before warning the builders it was “going to get ugly” unless they changed their mind.
The agency also alleges that the union breached court orders banning the union from blockading the work site. The documents allege that the union held up the 52-turbine development in April this year by preventing a concrete pour and blocking trucks due to deliver 600 tonnes of gravel.
A CFMEU spokesman said the union did not comment on matters that were before the courts.
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