The recent news and disclosures about the CFMEU have raised some observations about building unions and their officials, in particular about the CFMEU’s predecessor, the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF).

First, we must consider the historical contribution of building union officials. Tom McDonald, the father of the CFMEU, is by any standards one of the great union officials in our history. He together with Pat Clancy, Ernie Botswain, Stan Sharkey, Paddy Ellis, and a host of others, transformed the lives of building workers. They did so on all fronts: from wage rates to redundancy entitlements, workers’ compensation, training and safety.

Bill Kelty served as ACTU secretary for almost 20 years.Credit: Ben Rushton

All workers should be grateful for their contribution in the fight against apartheid, French nuclear testing in the Pacific, and the two biggest general strikes in our history (in 1976 and 1982), both over Medicare. They helped forge the campaign for universal entitlements to superannuation, and the use of building industry minimum rates, to establish the highest minimum rates for all workers in the world. These achievements should not be forgotten.

The building industry is a tough industry, and produces tough union officials. But largely, the industry is one of subcontractors and employers who can be evasive and........

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