The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU)

Australia's main trade union in construction, forestry and furnishing products, mining and energy production.

Building tradespeople, including bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, painters; skilled non-trades construction workers -- crane drivers, steel fixers, operators; and construction labourers and trades assistants belong to the union.

The CFMEU has offices in capital cities in Australia and in many major regional centres with the head office of the union in Sydney.

The CFMEU is structured in three main divisions being the Construction and General Division, the Mining and Energy Division and the Forestry and Furnishing Products Division. Each division operates largely autonomously although there is crossover of coverage.

The Construction Division is often associated with the left-wing of the Australian labour movement. They are well known for their militancy and have a hostile relationship with the federal Liberal government.

The Construction and General Division is an amalgamation of numerous craft unions involved in construction industry. Its coverage includes building tradespeople including bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, painters; skilled non-trades construction workers such as crane drivers, steel fixers and operators, and construction labourers and trades assistants. This coverage expanded due to the absorption of the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemens Association of Australasia (FEDFA) which had coverage of jobs such as crane drivers and other unions such as the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF).

http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/ The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU)

http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/construction/