CFMMEU rift deepens as national office moves to get away from Setka

Controversial unionist John Setka’s rift with much of his own union has deepened with the CFMMEU’s national office moving buildings in a bid to distance themselves from Mr Setka.

Setka’s Victorian construction branch shared a building in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, with the national office headed by national secretary Michael O’Connor.

John Setka's rift with the national CFMMEU has deepenedCredit: Jason South

Now Mr O’Connor’s office, along with the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union’s manufacturing division, have decided to move to a new office at 165 Bouverie Street Carlton, union sources have confirmed.

Mr Setka was informed of the decision on Wednesday. Through a spokesman he declined to comment.

Relations between Mr Setka and the national leadership of the union have deteriorated badly since June, when The Age revealed graphic details of his harassment of his wife, Emma Walters.

That included text messages where he called her a "weak f---en piece of shit" and a "treacherous Aussie f---en c---" and a "f---en dog".

CFMMEU national secretary Michael O'ConnorCredit: Alex Ellinghausen

The Age also revealed how Mr Setka, in a closed-door meeting, made comments about how the work of anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty had led to men having fewer rights.

The report – some of which was disputed by Mr Setka – led to a political and media storm.

In late June Mr Setka was convicted and fined as magistrate Belinda Wallington condemned his "nasty behaviour" and lack of contrition for his harassment of Ms Walters.

Mr Setka has support from most of his own national construction division but much of the rest of the union have failed to back him.

Union sources said he has fallen out badly with Mr O'Connor, who has failed to offer any public support for him since the crisis emerged.

That led to a tense atmosphere at the union’s shared building, which is owned by Mr Setka’s branch, and the eventual decision for the national and manufacturing divisions to move offices, union sources said.

Mr O’Connor, who is on holiday, could not be reached for comment.

Mr Setka has also faced calls to resign from ACTU secretary Sally McManus and 13 national unions while Labor leader Anthony Albanese has made moves to expel him from the ALP.

The Victorian Supreme Court last week dismissed Mr Setka's application to stop Labor’s national executive removing him from the ALP. Mr Albanese has said he will press ahead with the expulsion.

The leaks against Mr Setka led him to hire a former homicide squad detective to conduct an investigation into who leaked information against him.

A resolution by his branch condemned the "cowardly" leaks and said it would target the union's staff and even its own lawyers, Gordon Legal.

Mr Setka’s branch has since cut ties with Gordon Legal and taken its work to rival labour law firm Maurice Blackburn.