Belly, I'm not asking you to "just ride out the storm pretending it will fix its self." No, my casual observation was that "you open the door for the band of usual suspects on here to engage in some good old fashioned union bashing." Which is their prerogative to do so.
Are you surprised that there would be such revelations about some within the CFMEU, I'm not. The sad reality is the building industry has been a 'hot bed' of criminality for years and years, as long as I can remember. A blast from the past Big Norm Gallagher and the BLF, crime in the building game didn't die with Norm, it just moved on.
Do you think that criminality within the industry is confined to the workers and their unions, could the bosses and the owners also have a hand in some skulduggery at times, they certainly do in my book.
Although my partner was an active member of the HSU, and it was the first time in my life I ever advised someone to resign from the union, I still retained my membership of another union. Like some here will do, I didn't judge the whole union movement by the actions of a slimy few. In the case of the building industry, a tough industry breeds even tougher individuals, and some of those individuals will be criminals. In no way am I resigned to accepting that fact as a "fait accompli", it is only right that the good amongst use, such as yourself and my partner, work to rid the union movement of such people whenever, and wherever possible.
Now, if news broke that the 'Comancheros' had infiltrated the CWA, I would be surprised!
"By the way the CFMEU has constantly tried to infiltrate the greens.
In my work area they had achieved that even openly inviting votes for them." Belly, news to me. No need for a bit of political point scoring against a Labor ally. The usual suspects will do that for you

A Royal Commission into the operation of unions is sorely needed. Union officials who work for their members and are not corrupt have nothing to fear. Those opposed have something to hide.

I understand what you are saying Paul, and thank you for it.
Sorry but I am filled with joy at these revelations.
Only long term good can come from it for unions in general.
But yes after much damage.
I firmly hate lieing to union membership or hiding the truth.
And thing only honesty can restore our name.
See unions, not all but too many, are stuck in the long ago a time class warfare actually existed.
It does not now.
Consider the things I saw, but must only wispier about, Civil construction once AWU territory is now a moving confrontation CFMEU using lies hate the whole box and dice of these lard headed mugs against the AWU.
While we quietly gained the membership mostly back from them.
They insult the members by trying 1950.s thug actions.
Indy let me tell you you are quite wrong good unions and good officials exist and for decades have been sidelined by bosses more afraid of a militant union than an open and honest one.
I am reminded while we had no halos the AWU, quite often was requested to please visit my workers, by bosses intent on doing an EBA with us so forcing the house invading filthy mouthed wife insulting grubs we talk about here.
Unheard of during work choice we saw workers bought together by a boss often, to let us try to get them in the union and write new agreements
Now no lie bosses put wage rises higher than we wanted to reward workers for leaving the criminal group known as the CFMEU!
New members are out there waiting for assurity unions are not all alike.

The corruption cannot be dealt with from within. Lives are at risk.

Bring on the Royal Commission.

Hi there BELLY old chap...

I really lament for you and your legitimate Union cohorts, as I believe it's only a very few, that engage in this illegality and corrupt behaviour. Chief amongst those, the likes of Messrs Craig Thompson and Michael Williamson, who are still presumed to be innocent, until convicted ?

I can understand why the PM is keen to broaden his enquiry into the conduct of Unions per se. But to create a Royal Commission, is going to be awfully expensive to the poor ol' Tax Payer ?

Why not create a unique squad of AFP, with a specially appointed SC at it's head, with the exclusive brief of examining the existence or otherwise of any criminality or corruption within the broad Union movement ? I'm no bean counter, surely though a far cheaper 'instrument of inquiry' then a fully credentialed Royal Commission ?

What's you views there CHRISGAFF1000, a far more adroit person, with Courts of Inquiry, than I ?

Ah Belly,

Your transition from true believer to a skeptical observer is noted.

As each scandal receives the publicity it so richly deserves, you duck and weave in gyrations akin to the Karma Sutra.

You still believe in trade unions, the ALP and the various institutions that have traditionally supported the causes of the left. What you fail to recognize is that all these have been subsumed by something you don’t comprehend, can’t accept and never saw coming, socialism.

There is no ALP, no trade unions, no independent media, no free thinking academia, no unaligned NGO’s, no unshackled Judiciary and no more gravy rain. That which once supported you ideological bonds is increasingly exposed as parasitic relationships by and for the progressive elements of our society.

You are making good progress as you gradually abandon the values you once assigned to the institutions you once held dear. You continually refer to, and credit like minded contributors with the “truth” as in most of your posts. You still see this as anything other than “objective truth”. A truth that fewer and fewer Australians accept, thanks to the ABC and Fairfax. It must be devastating to hear that the those who once supported your value/moral proposition have now abandoned you.

I have no idea how you will live with your once strongly held perspectives, but quite frankly I don’t really care because you bought it, now you have to accept your own responsibility for your “purchase”, remember, “buyer beware”.

It’s time you stopped bleating, mitigating and explaining your rejection of reality and came to terms with the failure of your ideology.

Like so many on OLO, we have absolutely no reason to mitigate your incompetence. You have made your bed and now you must lay on it. Tough titties.

Your response will no doubt be as incomprehensible as ever, but sadly you still don’t get it