Former NSW CFMEU Secretary Has a Big Day

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

Sacked by a union that had itself gone into receivership, he was fighting for his survival. But he had the Electrical Trades Union, the Plumbers Union and the powerful Maritime Union of Australia in his corner, whose members were now gathering outside the Sussex Street headquarters, preparing to march in solidarity.

His job was to convince the members of these combined unions that their livelihoods were also at stake. The charges against him, the firing of union organizers, and the appointment of an executive to clean up the union, would be presented as an ideological attack on working men and women.

Police cleared the streets. Riot police arrived. At 10:30 sharp, the MUA began marching. “The MUA is here to stay,” they chanted. “The CFMEU is here to stay.”

As it moved, the crowd grew, and as the protesters joined up with CFMEU protesters on Macquarie Street, a huge cheer went up from the crowd. Friends slapped and squeezed hands, before quickly embracing.

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Greenfield was at the top of the crowd. Unions are a matter of numbers, and Greenfield had the numbers, more than 8,000, according to police. He was introduced to the gathering as the “mighty Darren Greenfield.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, not naming the charges against him or the charges he was charged with that morning.

But he exuded contempt for the allies who had abandoned 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 shouted. “We must vote these bastards out of office.”

(“F— Albo!” the crowd shouted.)

“Sally McManus is a traitor to the working people of this country.”

(“Shame!” shouted the crowd.)

Behind him, the union leaders rose one by one to double down on sentiment. Construction giants had defeated them. Governments had defeated them. An attack on one union was an attack on all. And the Australian Council of Trade Unions should be ashamed. (“Rats!” “Traitors!”)

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MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin came closest to naming the issues facing Greenfield. “Has anyone here been on the wrong side of the law?” he asked.

“Your union gave you a new chance at life and your family a new chance at 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 represent your interests?” (“Yes”) “Then support your union.”

By 12:30, everything was done except the singing. But this time there was a new twist. “The CFMEU is here to stay,” they chanted. “Darren Greenfield is here to stay.”

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