John Setka’s deputy Shaun Reardon quits over ‘irreconcilable differences’

CFMEU assistant secretary Shaun Reardon has citied “personal values” and “irreconcilable differences” with union boss John Setka for his sudden resignation.

The shock resignation of rogue CFMEU boss John Setka’s deputy has sparked fears the powerful construction union will now become even more militant.

CFMEU assistant secretary Shaun Reardon quit the union today because of “irreconcilable differences” with Mr Setka, who has been defying calls to stand down from the Australian Council of Trade Unions and other union leaders.

Mr Reardon — who the Herald Sun recently revealed had fallen out with Mr Setka — had essentially been in charge of the union while Mr Setka was in court facing serious criminal charges. He had also been the state government’s key contact with the union.

CMFEU boss John Setka and his deputy Shaun Reardon.

But his departure has solidified Mr Setka’s position, despite a concerted push to blast him out of the CFMEU over comments he allegedly made about family violence advocate Rosie Batty.

He has also said he will plead guilty next week to harassing a woman using a carriage service.

Mr Reardon told union members he had “not been pressured or encouraged in any way to resign”.

“Quite the opposite. It is purely a decision made with my family based on personal values I will live and die by,” he said.

“The fact is it is untenable for our executive if we can’t work in unison on certain issues that I value.”

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Opposition industrial relations spokesman Nick Wakeling said: “If Shaun Reardon can’t work with John Setka, how can Daniel Andrews and Labor?”

A Labor source added: “Many people within the movement are horrified that the aggressive, threatening face of unionism is dominating.”

Mr Reardon’s resignation came after the CFMEU national construction executive declared Mr Setka had its “full support”, as it condemned the “untruthful leaks” about his reported comments on Ms Batty as “acts of treachery”.

“John Setka along with all other leaders of our union has been elected and is supported by the democratic structures of our union,’’ the executive’s statement said.

Other union leaders have also rolled in behind Mr Setka, including Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch.

She said he deserved a fair hearing next week, and that she would be “more than happy to go on the record and speak publicly about it” after that.

The CFMEU’s national construction executive said it would not comment on Mr Setka’s court case.

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