Union to pay $560,000 for Vic blockade

A building union will pay more than half a million dollars in penalties, costs and compensation for a blockade it held in Melbourne last year.
Federal Court justice Richard Tracey found the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) flagrantly disregarded a court order in May last year when it blockaded the Melbourne Markets relocation site.
Justice Tracey imposed a $150,000 fine on the CFMEU for contempt of an injunction and a $100,000 pecuniary penalty for contraventions of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act.
The CFMEU will also have to pay $190,000 in costs to the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) and $120,000 compensation to six contractors.
"A meaningful penalty must be imposed in order to attempt to deter the CFMEU and others who, but for the risk of a high penalty, may be tempted to emulate that union's flagrant disregard of court orders," Justice Tracey said.
The CFMEU was found to have organised a blockade of the new Melbourne wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in Epping for 10 days between May 19 and May 28, 2010.
After the blockade began, orders were made to the union to end the protest and allow people and vehicles access to the site, but this did not occur, the court heard.
"It (the CFMEU) arrogantly asserted a right to determine who entered the site and what work could be undertaken on it," Justice Tracey said.
In a statement the ABCC said it was a landmark settlement and Commissioner Leigh Johns said he was pleased compensation would be paid to smaller subcontractors.
"Demarcation disputes threaten productivity, deprive workers of their wages and put hardworking subcontractors at risk," Mr Johns said.