Union’s desperate bid to keep a lid on internal turmoil

The construction union wants to keep a lid on a bitter wrangle over its Victorian leader John Setka ahead of the election.

The Victorian state secretary of the CFMEU, John Setka leaves the Melbourne Magistrate court last month. Picture: David Crosling

The militant construction union is trying to keep a lid on a bitter internal wrangle over the future of its Victorian leader John Setka, worried that infighting played out in public before the federal election could damage Labor.

The CFMEU’s Victorian branch, one of Labor’s biggest union affiliates and donors, and critical to Bill Shorten’s hold on party power in his home state, has been feuding for weeks over whether Mr Setka should go.

Mr Setka is on extended personal leave, facing criminal charges not related to his union job.

Senior union sources told The Australian Mr Setka and his long-time deputy Shaun Reardon had fallen out.

But Mr Setka played down the suggestion, saying he had not fallen out with anyone.

He confirmed he had not spoken to Mr Reardon during two months of leave, but said he did not need to talk to him, and maintained regular contact for “site checks” with the branch’s other ­assistant secretary, Elias Spernivasilis, who is acting for Mr Setka during his absence.

Mr Reardon, Mr Setka’s long-time union lieutenant and the Victorian CFMEU official most involved in ALP factional dealings with Mr Shorten on behalf of the union “industrial left”, is Mr Setka’s likely successor if there was a leadership change.

Just days before Scott Morrison is expected to call the federal election, the CFMEU’s Victorian branch is in “turmoil”, with pro- and anti-Setka factions at odds about whether the militant branch boss has become a political liability for the union, and whether he should stay or go.

Mr Setka is digging in, making it clear he cannot be forced out of his elected position mid-term. Mr Setka has a presumption of innocence while any charges are still to be determined by a court.

“No one expects him back, but John doesn’t see it that way,” a senior source told The Australian. “The Victorian construction division is doing their best to keep a lid on this. The whole place is in turmoil. They don’t want attention on Setka before the election.”

The CFMEU leadership has a list of demands it expects Labor to meet in full if elected as a condition of continuing political support for Mr Shorten. They include a significant boost to the right to strike, an unfettered right to enter building sites and abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission that has targeted the CFMEU for lawless behaviour. Charges against Mr Setka, not related to his job, include “recklessly causing injury to a woman” and “using a carriage service” to harass a woman. Last month a further 20 matters were added, related to Mr Setka’s alleged breaches of a court order.

The role of CFMEU national secretary Michael O’Connor could be important to any political move against Mr Setka because Mr O’Connor, like Mr Reardon, is involved in high-level Labor negotiations and wants to maximise Labor’s chances of winning.

Asked whether he intended to return as CFMEU Victorian secretary, Mr Setka told The Australian he had heard from others there was talk of him “tapping the mat” but he was not leaving. “There’s not even a push for me to resign,” he said.