You will no doubt have caught up with the crisis in the CFMEU, starting in Victoria, but impacting the entirety of the union. The CFMEU has long been targeted by governments, media, business and some parts of the general population. While Stick Together does not have a position statement about the CFMEU, we absolutely defend the right of workers of a union to determine their own leadership and their own affairs. And the reality is, the successive Australian governments have systematically introduced anti-union laws making it impossible to effectively fight for workers right – significant ant-worker reforms introduced by the Australian Labor Party.

Like the Builders Labourers Federation before it, the CFMEU is now facing the prospect of deregistration. Today’s show is the story of the BLF’s deregistration. Union activist John Tognolini produced the audio for today’s show, it’s narrated by Lisa Cruikshank, former presenter of Stick Together over 20 years ago.