Non-stop chicken emojis texted to a construction project manager’s mobile phone rendered the device completely useless as part of an orchestrated union harassment campaign, an inquiry has heard. According to a report by 1News, Joe Barker, who served as a senior project manager for the Georgiou group during the construction of Queensland’s Exit 41 motorway interchange, provided sworn testimony outlining the intimidation methods before the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU.
The Exit 41 Chickenwire Campaign And Digital Harassment
The digital harassment followed a 2023 dispute over bridge specifications. The union demanded two metres of wire mesh to go above a new bridge railing, while contractors maintained a lower height was sufficient. According to evidence presented to Commissioner Stuart Wood KC by counsel assisting Eddy Gisonda KC, the disagreement quickly escalated into personal intimidation.
Mr Barker described finding a video posted on Facebook that featured a doctored image of his face on a body holding a chicken, complete with chickens photoshopped onto his head and shoulder. Shortly after, his mobile number appeared on Gumtree in advertisements offering free chicken coops. “You were bombarded with calls and messages inquiring about free chicken coops,” Mr Gisonda told Mr Barker at the inquiry, where the project manager confirmed his contact details were distributed without permission.
The campaign then shifted to direct digital flooding. In May 2023, Mr Barker began receiving text messages containing multiple lines of chicken emojis. The barrage totaled over 500 single messages, including 70 arriving in a single morning, which locked up his phone and rendered it completely useless. When he walked past two union members on site, he witnessed them playing chicken noises on a phone and laughing. “If that’s not harassment I don’t know what is,” Mr Barker told the inquiry, adding that the tactics clearly impacted the timing and conduct of the project.
Cross River Rail Project Barbecue Demands And Safety Disputes
Union pressure extended beyond highway infrastructure and into major rail construction. Regarding the Cross River Rail Project, Justin Bishop, a site manager working for contractor CPB, outlined an October 2024 dispute involving CFMEU delegate Richie Atutolu. During a pre-start staff meeting, Mr Atutolu demanded to know why management was not providing site barbecues every Friday for the entire workforce of hundreds of men.
I said, ‘we don’t have a budget to supply barbecues to 400 men or 600 men every Friday. It’s just not going to happen’,
Mr Bishop told the commission. The dispute escalated when Mr Atutolu turned aggressive toward another worker, issuing threats including, If you want a mouth off, let’s go for a walk
and Get the f*** up
. Following the altercation, Mr Atutolu was removed from his role as CPB’s union-appointed safety representative.
Mr Bishop also revealed that hundreds of workers were repeatedly pulled off the tools over minor site conditions. In one instance, between 350 and 400 staff members were forced to sit idle in the sheds because CFMEU officials claimed workers could not walk through a three-millimetre puddle of water. That’s the sort of stuff you deal with,
Mr Bishop told the inquiry, describing the operational hurdles contractors face on major infrastructure projects.
Hearings Examine Union Conduct with Thirty Witnesses
The ongoing hearings continue to examine union conduct across multiple major civil engineering sites. The current block of proceedings is scheduled to hear testimony from up to 30 witnesses throughout October.
Dispute over Bridge Safety Rails Sparked Emoji Campaign
What triggered the chicken emoji harassment campaign against Joe Barker?
The harassment began after a 2023 dispute over bridge safety rails on the Exit 41 motorway interchange project, where the union demanded two metres of wire mesh against the contractor’s assessment.
How many text messages were sent to the project manager’s phone?
Mr Barker received over 500 single text messages containing multiple lines of chicken emojis, including 70 messages in a single morning, which rendered his device useless.
What happened to the union delegate involved in the Cross River Rail confrontation?
Richie Atutolu was sacked from his position as CPB’s union-appointed safety representative following an aggressive dispute with a worker over Friday barbecues.
How many workers were forced to stop work over the water puddle incident?
Between 350 and 400 workers were made to sit in the sheds after union officials ruled that staff could not walk through a three-millimetre puddle of water.
How many total witnesses are scheduled for the October inquiry hearings?
The Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU is expected to hear evidence from up to 30 witnesses during the October block of hearings.