CFMEU construction division leader Zach Smith has hit back at "bullshit" claims that a planned restructure to centralise campaigning, communications and training functions will undemocratically hand control to the national office and reduce members' influence.
The HSU's Victorian No 1 branch will enter full administration and secretary Diana Asmar will leave her job, under in an in-principle agreement reached with the union's national executive, which it expects the Federal Court to approve on Monday.
Former CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch leaders Darren and Michael Greenfield will return to court next month, after pleading guilty to receiving or soliciting corrupting benefits.
In its first decision on whether to give "removed" CFMEU construction division officials the chance to pursue jobs at other unions, the FWC has cleared former Queensland branch assistant leader Kane Lowth to take up a part-time role with the ETU but stopped short of allowing him to hold office or represent it in bargaining.
The FWC has started investigating allegations of financial mismanagement made against former CFMEU South Australian branch assistant secretary Marcus Pare and former CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch secretary Darren Greenfield and his son, assistant branch secretary Michael Greenfield.
The continuing power struggle between the RTBU's Victorian branch and the leadership of its locomotive division has again played out in court, division secretary Paris Jolly failing on appeal to prove that the union took adverse action against him because of an unsuccessful demerger attempt.
Mark Irving KC says he is administering the CFMEU's construction and general division "in the shadow" of the union's deposed leaders' High Court challenge, which is creating substantial uncertainty.
The FWO has launched a court case seeking penalties against former CFMEU construction and general division Victorian branch secretary John Setka and the union for allegedly attempting to coerce the AFL into sacking its head of umpiring, former ABCC commissioner Steve McBurney.
Corruption investigator Geoffrey Watson SC is recommending a criminal trial against ousted CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch secretary Darren Greenfield and civil proceedings against his leadership team and a lawyer over an alleged "extraordinary" transfer of $3 million to help him and his son defend "minor" charges.
