The CFMEU and union officials will pay over $2 million in penalties over unlawful industrial action.

A ruling has been handed down after an investigation of strikes at the Barangaroo site in Sydney, which involved about 1,000 workers and shut the construction site over two days in July 2014.

The Federal Court has also decided to refer the State Secretary of the NSW CFMEU Brian Parker and three other union officials to the Director of Public Prosecutions for allegedly giving false testimony.

It is the result of court action brought on by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

Justice Geoffrey Flick ruled the CFMEU should face a maximum penalty, listed at $1.3 million.

The CFMEU New South Wales faces a penalty of around $1 million.

Mr Parker was individually fined $45,400, while three other officials face fines of over $40,000.

Justice Flick's judgment concluded the major union “has long demonstrated by its conduct that it pays but little regard to compliance with the law and indeed has repeatedly sought to place itself above the law”.

“The CFMEU is to be regarded as a recidivist offender,” he said.

The court has also recommended evidence from Brian Parker, Robert Kera, Luke Collier and Tony Sloane be referred to the DPP to be tested against section 35 of the Crimes Act (Commonwealth), for giving false testimony.

CFMEU lawyers are going over the decision.

The ABCC said the judgement shows the seriousness of threats against workers and ABCC inspectors.