The CFMEU's construction division has come under fire after allegations of corrupt conduct and organised crime links, with the Fair Work Commission set to appoint an independent administrator to the union.
Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus said on Thursday processes to put in new leadership and restore the union would take time.
When asked on ABC Radio how long it would take, Ms McManus said it would be "probably years" before it took place.
"After an administrator is appointed, and there's new elections and a new leadership, there's proper processes put in place to make sure that's the case, we'll want to satisfy ourselves, so we'll interrogate that," she said.
"Unions are democratically run organisations and should be, and that (new leadership) should happen as soon as that union is in a position to govern itself, and has to be after the criminal elements are kicked out."
ACTU Statement on allegation regarding the CFMEU — Australian Unions (@unionsaustralia) pic.twitter.com/oqtZpFEl2ZJuly 15, 2024
The head of the national workplace relations regulator also said on Thursday investigations into the CFMEU were continuing, after being asked to examine the allegations by Workplace Minister Tony Burke.
"If unlawful conduct is established we will take appropriate enforcement action," Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said.
"Improving compliance across the building and construction industry is a priority for the Fair Work Ombudsman, and we will continue to investigate reports of non-compliance and hold to account those who act outside the law."
The ACTU on Wednesday moved to suspend the construction division of the union until it could demonstrate it was free from criminal elements.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus says alleged criminal actions don't represent the trade union movement. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Ms McManus said she was unaware of the allegations surrounding the CFMEU, with the union on the fringe of the ACTU.
She said the former Victorian head of the CFMEU John Setka, who resigned from the position after the allegations, had been against the ACTU.
"John Setka hates our guts, he hates my guts, (president Michele O'Neill's) guts," she said.
"For the last five years, John Setka's union has been isolated from the ACTU. We had no idea of ... the alleged infiltration by criminal elements, we thought he did not uphold union principles and that he was someone who pursued vengeance."
Ms McManus also said she had been warned of threats to her personal safety after previously going after the CFMEU.
"A few people have raised that with me. I'll tell you this. We will do what's necessary. I will do what's necessary. The union leadership will do what's necessary, we will not flinch," she said.
Minister Tony Burke warned he would introduce legislation if the CFMEU challenged proceedings. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
It comes as Labor's national executive will meet later on Thursday to determine whether it will continue to take donations
Various state Labor governments have also moved to ice their affiliations and halt donations.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he was confident the national executive would move to suspend donations from the construction arm.
"The ALP has an interest in making sure that donations we receive aren't tainted from infiltration from criminal gangs which seems to be occurring here so I would firmly support that action by the national executive," he told the ABC.
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor reiterated calls for the building and construction sector watchdog to be reinstated, saying the steps to place the CFMEU into administration were not enough.
"I seriously doubt that anyone can deal with the CFMEU in its current form, because at the end of the day, it's rotten to the core," he told ABC Radio.
