More than 200 construction workers and supporters of the Construction Forestry Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) protested outside the Fair Work Commission on December 13 calling for the reinstatement of Esther Van Arend, a former CFMEU health and safety organiser, who was sacked by the CFMEU administrator.
Defend the Unions, Defend the CFMEU, which organised the protest, demanded that Van Arend be reinstated immediately.
Van Arend has been outspoken about her union being placed under administration by Labor’s new Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 law.
The rally also brought to attention the undemocratic nature of the CFMEU being placed under administration with Esther being just one example of a CFMEU official who was sacked without any due process.
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Sue Bull from Defend the Unions, Defend the CFMEU read out a statement by Van Arend which criticised the undemocratic nature of her sacking and pointed out that under the new anti-CFMEU law “she has no right of appeal” to the Fair Work Commission.
Casey Nguyen, a CFMEU delegate told the protest: “We need strong women like [Esther] that will stand up”. She thanked Van Arend for her mentorship and mentoring other female delegates.
Former CFMEU national secretary Christy Cain spoke in support for Van Arend and said the rally “is just the beginning” of a campaign for her to resume her organiser position.