The CFMEU has been hit with a $48,000 fine for threatening to disrupt work on a Melbourne rail station.

An officer of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) threatened to organise action that would disrupt work on a rail separation and station upgrade at the Mitcham train station in 2013.

The Federal Court in Victoria was told in hearings this year that the union official was planning to persuade subcontractors not to work that day.

The court that the action was illegal, as it was intended to push head contractor John Holland into industrial activity.

The case was brought by the Fair Work Building and Construction (FWBC), which alleged union officer Joseph Myles met with company managers about a lack of CFMEU representation on the project.

The FWBC told the court that Mr Myles indicated to the company that without union representation, there would be “war”.

The union admitted to engaging in conduct that contravened the Fair Work Act.

In another sign of the builders’ union’s militancy, the CFMEU was made to pay $3.55 million to property developer Grocon after an illegal blockade at several Melbourne sites in 2012.