Former secretary of NSW CFMEU has a big day out

Greenfield wore a black union t-shirt, jeans and sunglasses.

Sacked from a union that had itself been put into administration, he was fighting for survival. But he had in his corner the Electrical Trades Union, the Plumbers Union and the powerful Maritime Union of Australia, whose members were at that moment gathered outside its Sussex Street headquarters and preparing to march towards him in solidarity.

His task was to convince the members of these combined unions that their livelihood was also at stake. The charges against him, the dismissal of union organizers and the appointment of an administrator to clean up the union would be framed as an ideological attack on working men and women.

Police cleared the streets. The riot squad arrived. At the stroke of 10.30am, the MUA began to march. “The MUA is here to stay,” they chanted. “The CFMEU is here to stay.”

As it moved, the mass grew, and when the marchers combined with the CFMEU protesters on Macquarie Street, a great cheer rose from the crowd. Friends slapped and squeezed one another’s hands, before pulling into a quick embrace.

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Greenfield stood at the top of the crowd. Unions are a numbers game, and Greenfield had the numbers, more than 8000, according to police. He was introduced to the rally as the “mighty Darren Greenfield”.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. He did not mention the allegations leveled at him, or the charges he had faced that morning.

But he frothed with contempt for the allies who had defected him: the Labor party, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and its leader Sally McManus.

“We are here today because of the stinking rotten Labor party,” he cried. “We need to vote these bastards out.”

(“F— Albo!” the crowd rejoined.)

“Sally McManus is a sellout to working people in this country.”

(“Shame!” the crowd rejoined.)

Behind him, union leaders rose one after the other to double down on the sentiment. Construction giants had beaten them down. Governments had beaten them up. An attack on one union was an attack on all. And the Australian Council of Trade Unions should hang their heads in shame. (“Rats!” “Traitors!”)

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MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin came closest to mentioning the jobs faced by Greenfield. “Anyone here been on the wrong side of the law?” I have asked.

“Your union gave you another chance in life and your family another chance in life that no one would have given you if you weren’t in the union.

“Did you elect these officials?” (“Yes”) “Do you believe they are representing your interests?” (“Yes”) “Then back your union.”

By 12.30pm, it was all done bar the chanting. But this time there was a new variation. “The CFMEU is here to stay,” they chanted. “Darren Greenfield is here to stay.”

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