The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) reports that the Federal Court in Melbourne has penalised the CFMEU and organiser Bob Mates for engaging in coercive conduct at a Heidelberg construction site in February 2006.

ABCC Commissioner John Lloyd said the case affirms once again that coercion is unlawful conduct.

Penalties totalling $85,500 were imposed on the union and Mr Mates. They threatened the head contractor that the project would never recommence and 'was not going to happen' if the head contractor did not employ two shop stewards and an OH&S officer who had been employed by a previous contractor.

Penalties totalling $75,500 were imposed on the CFMEU and $10,000 on Mr Mates for three contraventions of s.43 of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005. The respondents were also ordered to pay 60 per cent of the ABCC's costs in the matter.

22 September, 2009