RANK AND FILE CFMEU AND COMMUNITY, FIGHTING FOR A DEMOCRATIC, MEMBER-RUN UNION 
HANDS OFF THE CFMEU!


Defend the unions;
Defend the CFMEU!



We oppose government interference in unions. The CFMEU, like all unions, must have the right to procedural fairness and justice.



27/8/24 rally in Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Matt Hrkac
18/9/24 rally in Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Matt Hrkac
27/8/24 rally in Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Matt Hrkac
27/8/24 rally in Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Matt Hrkac




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ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
Defend the Unions - Defend the CFMEU opposes the Albanese Labor government’s attack on the CFMEU. We see the draconian Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 as anti-union and anti-worker.

By appointing an outside administrator and interfering in the CFMEU’s right to determine its own affairs through the democratic control of its membership, this law breaks the International Labor Organisation Convention: Part 1: Freedom of Association, Articles 3 and 4.

The law also sets a precedent for attacking all unions while undermining the organising power of the trade union movement. An attack on one union is an attack on all workers.

This is an orchestrated and planned, underhanded attack on the CFMEU in order to reduce the CFMEU’s ability to represent its members and campaign for safe and good working conditions.

It also undermines the progressive work the CFMEU has done in solidarity with First Nations communities, against the war in Palestine and its campaign for a corporate super profits tax to fund social and affordable housing.

Labor’s attacks will only benefit the bosses and Master Builders at a time when many sectors of the community are suffering.

We urge all union members to pass solidarity motions in their workplaces and through their union structures to build pressure on their union leaderships to back the CFMEU against these attacks by the Labor government.



  


News


+ Read Issue 2 of Rank-and-File News: February 2025, PDF

+ Read Issue 1 of Rank-and-File News: Fighting Administration – Dec 2024, PDF

+ Limited edition ‘saved by workers’ risograph art prints available at our upcoming events (see flyer)

+ Read a statement on the sacking of OHS organiser Esther Van Arend, Thursday 28 November 2024 – and a motion calling for protesting the sacking, passed 5 December 2024

+ Media release: Motion of No Confidence in Administrator Passes, Wednesday 27 November 2024

+ Read an announcement from CFMEU about the death of a worker at the Vestas Wambo Wind Farm near Dalby, Queensland, Tuesday 26 November 2024

+ Read ‘Australian Construction Workers are Fighting Back’, by Jade Ingham at Jacobin

+ Read ‘Worker dies as CFMEU administration ties union hands’, published Monday 25 November 2024

+ Read a statement on the tragic worksite death at the Golden Plains Windfarm Project, issued Friday 15 November 2024

+ Visit the new website, Your Union Your Choice

+ Read a statement by CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith regarding the Golden Plains Windfarm Fatality, Monday 11 November 2024

+ Media release: ‘Exorbitant salaries of CFMEU administrators revealed’, Wednesday 30 October 2024

+ Read ‘The Labor Careerists Wrecking Australia’s Construction Union’, by Chris Dite at Jacobin

+ Read a report from the HSR Conference 2024

+ Read ‘EXCLUSIVE: Bosses’ letter to Labor reveals conditions, union rights the real reason for attack on CFMEU’, by Tom Orsag at Solidarity

+ Watch Solidarity Under Siege: The ACTU's Attack on the CFMEU:






Past events


  • 6pm, Wednesday 12 March 2025
    Defend the Unions – Defend the CFMEU: Community Solidarity General Meeting – MUA, West Melbourne, VIC 


  • 6pm, Wednesday 12 February 2025
    Defend the Unions – Defend the CFMEU: Community Solidarity General Meeting – MUA, West Melbourne, VIC (view poster by Sam Wallman)


  • 12.30pm, Friday 13 December 2024 
    Protest the sacking of Esther, CFMEU Organiser (by the anti-democratic, Albanese govt appointed administrator of the CFMEU) – Outside the Fair Work Commission, 11 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC (view poster by Sam Wallman)


  • 5pm, Thursday 12 December 2024
    Defend the Unions – Defend the CFMEU: Final meeting and End of Year Party – MUA, 46 Ireland St, West Melbourne VIC (view poster by Sam Wallman)


  • 6.30pm, Thursday 5 December 2024
    Public Meeting: Why We Stand with the CFMEU, with Jade Ingham, Senator Fatima Payman, David Water – Coburg Town Hall, 90 Bell Street, Coburg VIC
    (view poster by Sam Wallman; listen to 3CR radio ad)

  • 6pm, Wednesday 13 November 2024
    Defend the Unions – Defend the CFMEU: Community Solidarity General Meeting – MUA, West Melbourne, VIC

  • 5pm, Wednesday 30 October 2024
    CFMEU Victoria Branch Meeting – CFMEU, 540 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC

  • 11.30am, Tuesday 15 October 2024
    Westgate Bridge Memorial – 54th anniversary of the bridge’s collapse – Under the Westgate Bridge, Douglas Parade, Spotswood VIC

  • 6.30pm, Thursday 10 October 2024
    Migrant Coalition Public Forum: What’s Going On With The CFMEU? – Greek Democritus Worker’s League, Thornbury, VIC
    (view promo tile)

  • 6pm, Wednesday 9 October 2024
    Defend the Unions – Defend the CFMEU: Community Solidarity General Meeting – MUA, West Melbourne, VIC

  • 5pm, Wednesday 2 October 2024
    Rank and File Union Branch Meeting – ANMF Building, Melbourne, VIC
    (view poster by Sam Wallman)




QUICK LINKS

 For latest news, see below!



OUR DEMANDS
  • Repeal of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024;
  • Administrators from all CFMEU offices be removed;
  • All sacked CFMEU officials to be immediately reinstated


OUR PURPOSE
    Defend the Unions – Defend the CFMEU will campaign against these unjust laws – and will unite a broad section of the community to give support to the CFMEU, all construction unions and any other union that needs community solidarity.


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CFMEU solidarity march, 27 August 2024 in Naarm/Melbourne. Photo: Matt Hrkac



RANK AND FILE CFMEU AND COMMUNITY, FIGHTING FOR A DEMOCRATIC, MEMBER-RUN UNION 
HANDS OFF THE CFMEU!