A UNION and two officials will pay more than half a million dollars in fines after the Federal Court found they targeted a Newcastle crane firm because it did not have an agreement with the organisation.
The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) said the penalty was one of the largest handed out to the CFMMEU and followed three separate judgements this year against the union for targeting crane companies.
Comment has been sought from the union.
The Newcastle incidents began in October 2018 and spread across three building sites.
The union has been fined $460,000, with official Brendan Holl fined $61,600 and Justin Hobson hit with a $33,000 penalty.
The commission said Mr Holl and others blocked access to a Kooragang coal terminal on October 18, saying protesters would not leave until a Wheeler crane was removed from the site.
The following day protesters, who were described as wearing CFMMEU clothing, assembled at Mayfield's San Clemente High School site and blocked driveways.
The commission said Mr Holl and Mr Hobson entered the site where they prevented the Wheelers' crane from operating, refusing to leave unless the crane was taken.
On October 22, groups of men wearing CFMMEU branded clothing again assembled outside a Kooragang terminal.
"The campaign against Wheeler Cranes saw CFMMEU officials Brendan Holl and Justin Hobson contravene right of entry laws and engage in coercive conduct at three Newcastle building sites in October 2018 in a bid to have the crane company removed from the projects," the ABCC said in a statement.
Federal Court Justice Wendy Abraham described the conduct as "deliberate, premeditated, coordinated, and for clearly prohibited purposes"
ABCC Commissioner Stephen McBurney said that the commission would continue to "hold law breakers to account for their actions".
