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ARTICLE · 30 NOVEMBER 2014

ACCC prosecutes CFMEU over Boral boycotts

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It all started when the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union fell out with construction company Grocon.

AustraliaAntitrust/Competition Law
Michael Bradley
Michael Bradley
Hannah Marshall
Hannah Marshall
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Somebody buy the movie rights to this story, quick. It has everything. Unions, stand over tactics, boycotts, a Royal Commission, and now a Federal Court prosecution. The only things missing are Jason Statham and a hard rock soundtrack.

It all started when the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) fell out with construction company Grocon. The Union stopped work and picketed Grocon sites. Boral got caught in the crossfire because it was the exclusive concrete supplier to Grocon.

Earlier this year the trade unions Royal Commission heard allegations that CFMEU members banned use of Boral concrete at construction sites in Melbourne or delayed supply by stringing out safety checks on Boral trucks.

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