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# Unionists rally against criminal charges for organiser
- URL: https://redflag.org.au/article/unionists-rally-against-criminal-charges-organiser/
- Published: 2015-08-18T01:36:36.000Z
- Updated: 2024-03-28T02:12:09.000Z
- Author: Dean Maloney
- Tags: Unions and Workers, Activism and Reports, #Import 2025-10-13 13:46

More than 100 people braved cold and rain outside the ACT magistrates’ court on the morning of 5 August to support John Lomax, a CFMEU organiser facing blackmail charges. 

Lomax is alleged to have forced a Canberra painting company to sign an enterprise agreement in April last year. That agreement set hourly wages for employees at $26 an hour, instead of the $17 that the owner of the company claimed he could have paid if he hadn’t signed.

“There are three types of blackmail under the law, I have recently found out”, CFMEU Construction and General Division secretary Dave Noonan told the crowd. “One is blackmail in connection to a public office; it’s not that charge. One is blackmail for personal gain; John Lomax is not charged with blackmail for personal gain. The third is called blackmail causing a loss, and you can see the charge sheet, it’s public. What they say is that by getting those workers a pay rise, John Lomax has caused the employer a loss – and they call that criminal!”

The union movement is understandably worried about the precedent the case could create if he is found guilty. A guard of honour was formed for Lomax, who arrived to chants of “Johnny Lomax here to stay”. The crowd was determined to give him a warm and loud welcome, and flags from several different unions flew above the protest. “I’m here to defend workers’ rights to organise”, Rachel, one of the attendees, told *Red Flag*. “It’s great to see so many different unions represented here today.”

Lomax entered a not guilty plea. His trial will continue in October.