CFMEU members rally against government administration decision

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Australian cities have faced disruption as tens of thousands of people marched in protest against the forced administration of the construction arm of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

Transcript

00:00Rallying cries filling city streets.

00:15Building industry unionists around the country walked off the job this morning, leaving their

00:19work sites.

00:23Members of the wider union movement joining CFMEU members protesting against the government's

00:28intervention.

00:29Elbow brought us all here, elbow sold us all out.

00:33We are here to support the CFMEU and the struggle they're in, united as one.

00:40The nationwide strike was in response to the sacking of nearly 300 CFMEU construction officials

00:46and the appointment of an administrator.

00:49All sparked by allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration inside the union's construction

00:54arm.

00:55We said that administration was anti-democratic, we said that administration was not in the

01:00best interest of our members.

01:01We're going to campaign for the absolute destruction of the Australian Labor Party in this country.

01:10The government is not for turning and nor is the Australian public.

01:15They want to see this industry cleaned up.

01:19The crowd here in Melbourne is immense and while people have been acting calmly today

01:24there is a very clear undertone of anger at what those rallying say is government interference

01:29in the union movement.

01:31It was by far the largest rally, police estimating up to 50,000 people.

01:36Thousands also turning out in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth and even in smaller

01:42centres all with a similar message.

01:49Employers have been warned they're required to dock at least four hours of pay from a

01:53legal striker.

01:54If there is unprotected industrial action then there are consequences for that.

02:00But those on the streets returned with their own warning.

02:04Good luck in the next election.

02:05Simmering tensions that continue to build.

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