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John Setka
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John Setka
John Setka (born September 1964[citation needed]) is a former Australian trade unionist.
Until 12 July 2024, he was the secretary of the Victorian-Tasmanian division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, and Energy Union for 12 years. The Victorian-Tasmanian division administers the South Australian division under a temporary arrangement.
He is a controversial figure in the Australian trade union movement. He is known for his strong support at a grassroots level, especially among the rank and file of the CFMEU. His supporters regard him as a strong advocate against political, legal, and industrial opponents; the national secretary of the union, Christy Cain has called him one of the "most fair dinkum union people in this country".
On the other hand, the Courts have upheld the description of him as a thug, while Setka's political opponents have derided him as a bully, and criticized his purported stance that it can be necessary to break the law to pursue union interests. He has also faced strong criticism for alleged public remarks on the topic of domestic violence, and a guilty plea for harassing his ex-wife via text, issues that contributed to his formal expulsion from the Australian Labor Party in 2019.
In recent years Setka's personal life has been the subject of considerable media attention. His marital breakdown, and associated legal issues, have led to additional public criticism.
John Setka was born to a Croatian family. His father was a labourer named Bob Setka, who survived the West Gate Bridge collapse in 1970, one of the worst industrial accidents in Victoria's history.
Setka began working as a labourer at the age of 19. He began involvement with trade unionism first after joining the Builders Labourers Federation. He was mentored by state secretary John Cummins.
Under Setka's leadership, media commentators have noted the "pervasive power of the CFMEU over construction companies".
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John Setka
John Setka (born September 1964[citation needed]) is a former Australian trade unionist.
Until 12 July 2024, he was the secretary of the Victorian-Tasmanian division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, and Energy Union for 12 years. The Victorian-Tasmanian division administers the South Australian division under a temporary arrangement.
He is a controversial figure in the Australian trade union movement. He is known for his strong support at a grassroots level, especially among the rank and file of the CFMEU. His supporters regard him as a strong advocate against political, legal, and industrial opponents; the national secretary of the union, Christy Cain has called him one of the "most fair dinkum union people in this country".
On the other hand, the Courts have upheld the description of him as a thug, while Setka's political opponents have derided him as a bully, and criticized his purported stance that it can be necessary to break the law to pursue union interests. He has also faced strong criticism for alleged public remarks on the topic of domestic violence, and a guilty plea for harassing his ex-wife via text, issues that contributed to his formal expulsion from the Australian Labor Party in 2019.
In recent years Setka's personal life has been the subject of considerable media attention. His marital breakdown, and associated legal issues, have led to additional public criticism.
John Setka was born to a Croatian family. His father was a labourer named Bob Setka, who survived the West Gate Bridge collapse in 1970, one of the worst industrial accidents in Victoria's history.
Setka began working as a labourer at the age of 19. He began involvement with trade unionism first after joining the Builders Labourers Federation. He was mentored by state secretary John Cummins.
Under Setka's leadership, media commentators have noted the "pervasive power of the CFMEU over construction companies".