CFMEU NSW has welcomed the decision of Judge Leonie Flannery in sentencing former union leaders Darren and Michael Greenfield.
CFMEU NSW Executive Director Michael Crosby said the construction union was rebuilding after the Greenfield regime.
“Darren and Michael Greenfield have betrayed the members of our union in the most fundamental way possible,” Mr Crosby said.
“They took money from an employer on the obvious understanding that the employer would receive favourable treatment from the union.
“Favourable treatment is a euphemism. It actually means that that employer could rely on a special relationship with the Greenfields.
“It’s likely that that employer would get work at the expense of other employers. Organisers wouldn’t check the entitlements of the workers employed by that employer. The suspicion is that safety regulations could be skirted with impunity.”
Mr Crosby said the Greenfields had fundamentally breached members’ trust.
“Under the Greenfields, members clearly couldn’t know who’s side their leadership was on. Did employers call the tune or were members their leadership’s first priority?” he said.
“Any suggestion this was a victimless crime that didn’t hurt members is completely false. It was an egregious breach of trust that shattered the important compact between union members and their leaders.”
He thanked police and prosecutors for doing their job.
“We expect the Administrator of the union will expel these two from membership of the union.
“The construction union in NSW is rebuilding. Corruption is gone along with the Greenfield regime.”
Mr Crosby said CFMEU NSW’s unwavering focus was on its members.
“We are midway through a campaign to ensure that the EBA is adhered to in every particular,” he said.
“We are building alliances with Government, police, employers and regulators aimed at driving criminality from the industry.
“Our mission is to demand that every construction worker be treated with respect, earn what they are worth and go home safe at night.”
Contact details:
Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480 / [email protected]