Wild melee erupts in Melbourne as hundreds of anti-vax tradies protest against mandatory Covid jabs - with a union boss branded 'Dan Andrews' b****h' and a BREAD CRATE hurled at security

• e-mail

A protest against construction restrictions in Melbourne has turned violent with anti-vaccination demonstrators clashing with union officials and a bread crate hurled.

Hundreds of workers in hi-vis vests walked off the job on Monday and gathered outside the CFMEU head office on Elizabeth St to protest against mandatory Covid-19 vaccine requirements which come into effect later this week.  

Dramatic mobile phone footage showed protesters hurling projectiles at men guarding the door, labelling high-profile union boss John Setka 'Dan Andrews' b****' and yelling 'f*** the jab'.

Bottles and a bread crate were among the projectiles thrown, while a glass window was also smashed during the ugly and chaotic scenes.

A protest against construction restrictions in Melbourne has turned violent with demonstrators clashing with union officials and hurling a bread crate

Hundreds of workers in h-vis vests gathered outside the CFMEU head office on Elizabeth St on Monday morning 

Construction workers clash with union representatives outside the CFMEU office in Melbourne on Monday

Flanked by union officials, Mr Setka, the longtime CFMEU state secretary, tried to appease the crowd and address the protestors over loud speaker.

'Please calm down, can you at least give me the respect to talk,' he told protestors. 'We're not the enemy, I don't know what you have heard. 

'I have never ever said I support mandatory vaccination.' 

But his pleas fell on deaf ears  and was drowned out by protestors booing and shouting expletive-filled insults.

'Dan Andrew's b****,' several could be heard chanting. 

Others screamed: 'Stand up, or stand down.' 

Dramatic mobile phone footage showed protesters hurling projectiles at men guarding the door and heckling a union rep as 'Dan Andrews' b****' 

Mr Setka tried to tell the crowd he'd never even met the Victorian Premier but was eventually forced to retreat back inside the building before protestors smashed the glass door, chanting 'my body, my choice'.

Unionists were forced to formed a human wall outside of the entrance to stop demonstrators from entering the building.

The chaotic scene were sparked by a message sent to the 'Vic Freedom Movement Event' group on a social messaging app urging workers to attend CFMEU headquarters to 'support freedom of choice'.

'Send a message that your unions will lose your support if they comply with these measures that defy personal choices for medical decisions,' the message reads. 

Many protestors remained outside CFMEU on Monday afternoon as a heavy police presence watched on.

A bread crate was one of the projectiles hurled during wild scenes outside CFMEU headquarters in Melbourne

One participant live-steaming the event described it as a peaceful protest.

'We're doing what has historically been done by workers,' he said.

The protest comes as a raft of new restrictions are enforced on the construction industry as part of Victoria's roadmap out of the Covid crisis. 

Construction workers will be required to show evidence that they've had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from this Friday.

Tea rooms will be forced to shut and workers forced to eat lunch outdoors. Travel between Melbourne and the regions for work has also been banned. 

CFMEU Victorian secretary John Sekta's attempts to calm down construction workers fell on deaf ears

Victorian Daniel Andrews described protests as 'not smart, they are not safe' when he was asked about during his daily Covid update on Monday..

'This industry is open at 25 per cent, we want to get to 50, being vaccinated is an incredibly important part of that,' he told reporters.

'Protests don't work. Getting vaccinated works, following the rules works, that's how you stay open, that's how you get open.'

'There'd been a whole bunch of people sitting at home scratching their heads about why anyone would be protesting about being open'. 

Around 13 per cent of Victoria's active Covid cases are linked to construction sites as the state recorded 567 new cases on Monday.

It's the second protest by Melbourne construction workers within three days to spark widespread chaos.

Up to 100 workers blocked traffic by sitting on plastic chairs in the middle of some of Melbourne CBD's busiest streets last Friday to protest against the closure of their tearooms.

CFMEU state secretary John Sekta tried to appease the crowd before he was outspoken by the workers

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, premier Daniel Andrews said protests were not helpful in containing the spread of the latest Covid-outbreak.

'This industry is open at 25 per cent, we want to get to 50, being vaccinated is an incredibly important part of that,' he said.

'Protests don't work. Getting vaccinated works, following the rules works, that's how you stay open, that's how you get open.'

'There'd be a whole bunch of people sitting at home scratching their heads about why anyone would be protesting about being open.'

Protestors began gathering outside the office in the early morning. By midday, the small group had ballooned to hundreds with demonstrators spilling onto the street and blocking traffic. 

A group of protestors later broke off from the main crowd to march towards parliament. 

CFMEU representatives clash with protestors at the entrance of the office on Monday

Most of the demonstrators remained behind with one person yelling they will return to the office until their message is heard.

'We will come back every day,' he yelled to loud cheers. 

Several protestors could be heard demanding Mr Andrews resign as premier. 

Another person was seen wearing a hardhat with the phrase: 'Covid-19 is all s***. Wake up'. 

The protest was staged just days after construction workers demonstrated against the impending new restrictions on Friday.

Dozens of workers set up plastic chairs and tables in the middle of Lonsdale Street in Melbourne's CBD for their morning smoke break, forcing the cancellation of trams in the vicinity.

Similar protests also took place on Collins Street and Elizabeth Street in the city centre, as well as in Brunswick, Coburg, Kew, Parkville, South Yarra and Richmond, during the morning and at lunchtime. 

 More to come