‘F***ing dog’: Vision of ugly brawl between striking CFMEU tradies and non-union workers

A chaotic brawl betwixt striking tradies and non-union workers who crossed a picket enactment successful Brisbane has been condemned, arsenic allegations of intimidation and threatening behaviour emerge.

Work connected Queensland’s largest infrastructure task has crushed to a halt aft members of the CFMEU voted to onslaught connected Tuesday successful an escalation of a months-long dialog with CPB Contractors, which oversees operation of the $6.3 cardinal Cross River Rail.

Among the union’s demands are a $2000 per week wage emergence for immoderate workers, an other 20 rostered days disconnected each year, and a vigor argumentation that would unopen down operations connected particularly blistery days.

If the CFMEU’s demands are met, entry level tradies would container an eye-watering yearly wage of $240,000.

Tensions boiled implicit yesterday erstwhile non-union workers attempted to participate a Cross River Rail tract astatine Annerley astatine astir 7am.

Disturbing imaginativeness shows those crossing the picket being attacked by astir dozens of striking CFMEU members, successful an expletive-laden brawl that went connected for respective minutes and spilt retired onto the road.

“Hold the line, lads,” a antheral high-vis workwear could beryllium heard shouting.

When a antheral connected tract opened an introduction constituent to let non-striking workers extracurricular to enter, helium was called a “f***ing dog”.

Seven News reported that CFMEU officials were portion of the fight. News.com.au has requested remark from the union.

Concerned passers-by called the constabulary but by the clip officers arrived astatine the scene, the mob had dispersed. An probe is present underway but nary charges person yet been laid.

“I deliberation it’s perfectly disgusting that the CFMEU [is] preventing workers going successful and doing their occupation and earning a surviving for their families,” Queensland’s Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie told Nine News.

An estimated 60 tradies not portion of the CFMEU are prevented from participating successful onslaught enactment and hazard subject oregon dismissal if they don’t amusement up astatine work.

When a video of the chaotic scenes emerged yesterday, CFMEU nationalist caput Zach Smith defended the actions of striking workers and blamed CPB Contractors for sparking the malaise.

“We marque nary apology for lasting firmly against firm thuggery and utilizing our antiauthoritarian rights to execute amended outcomes for workers,” Mr Smith said successful a statement.

The CFMEU claimed “hired muscle” from the institution had been sent to onslaught sites to intimidate national members.

“CPB are thing much than disgraceful firm thugs trying to intimidate workers done strikebreaking tactics that beryllium to a bygone era,” Mr Smith said.

He said striking members would bash “whatever it takes” to person their demands met.

CPB Contractors lodged an urgent assertion successful the Federal Court yesterday, seeking an injunction against the sanctioned concern action.

It alleged the CFMEU had unlawfully padlocked gates astatine Cross River Rail enactment sites crossed the city, physically blocked non-union tradies from entering, and plastered the faces of those crossing picket lines connected placards.

“The behaviour displayed astatine [the Annerley site] yesterday greeting was unacceptable, and we expect each parties progressive to assistance constabulary with their inquiries,” a Cross River Rail Delivery Authority spokesperson said.

“Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations person been ongoing for immoderate time, and this is simply a substance betwixt the large contractor and the unions representing employees.

“We promote each parties progressive to bargain successful bully religion and to scope a resolution, truthful we tin proceed to present this translation project.”

Meanwhile, imaginativeness changeable connected Monday greeting besides showed CFMEU representatives jumping fences astatine different authorities infrastructure project, the $300 cardinal Centenary Bridge upgrade.

News.com.au approached CPB Contractors, the Queensland Government and the CFMEU for remark for this story.