CFMEU boss Michael O’Connor digs in after John Setka pushes for his resignation

National secretary Michael O’Connor is refusing to resign, cementing the split between his backers and those of the union’s Victorian leader.

CFMEU National Secretary Michael O'Connor. Picture: David Geraghty

CFMEU national secretary Michael O’Connor is refusing to quit after the union’s militant construction division used its numbers on the national executive to try to force him to resign.

Cementing the split between supporters of Mr O’Connor and Victorian leader John Setka, the national executive passed the resignation motion on Thursday, with the support of the construction and maritime divisions which tried to install maritime union official, Chris Cain.

Mr O’Connor, a significant figure within the ALP and brother of Labor frontbencher, Brendan O’Connor, has two years to run on his term and is staring down the resignation demands.

The resignation motion, which was debated by national executive members via Zoom, was opposed by the union’s mining and energy and manufacturing divisions. One source said the vote was 25-18 in favour of ousting Mr O’Connor.

CFMEU boss John Setka undergoes a coronavirus test last month. Picture: AAP

Supporters of Mr O’Connor said the motion was “revenge” by Mr Setka who has fallen out with Mr O’Connor and remains angry that he did not publicly support him after Mr Setka was charged with harassing his wife and the ALP moved to expel him.

Sources said during the meeting Mr Setka accused Mr O’Connor of failing to adequately take up the fight against the Morrison Government on behalf of the union. Mr O’Connor and Mr Setka did not respond to requests for comment.

The Australian revealed this week that Mr Setka’s opponents feared his supporters would seek to push a no-confidence motion in Mr O’Connor and install Mr Cain.

Sources said that any move to press for Mr O’Connor’s departure would likely face a legal challenge in the courts. Supporters of Mr O’Connor said no charges had been brought against him and the motion was a “pure act of vengeance” by Mr Setka’s supporters.

Sources also questioned the ability to install Mr Cain. Before yesterday, union rules stated that only the leaders of the union’s divisions - Mr O’Connor, Dave Noonan, Tony Maher and Paddy Crumlin - were eligible to be national secretary.

Sources said a proposed bid by the construction division to restructure the national executive and cement its authority was not debated at the Thursday meeting.

The formal split of the union had implications for the ALP and the ACTU. Fourteen union leaders last year backed a call by ACTU secretary Sally McManus, for Mr Setka to resign.

The Australian revealed in March that the government had put its Ensuring Integrity Bill - proposed laws targeting the CFMEU - on hold as it sought to work with unions during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the latest public divisions will comfort government MPs keen to reactivate the assault on the union when the economy moves into recovery.

CFMEU officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Thursday and Friday.