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John Setka at an early court appearance.Credit:Joe Armao

Prominent Victorian union leader John Setka will plead guilty to harassing a woman,but a charge of recklessly causing injury has been withdrawn by police prosecutors,along with 30 other charges.

Setka,54,the Victorian secretary of the Construction,Forestry,Maritime,Mining and Energy Union,appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday as his lawyer indicated his client would plead guilty to two charges at a hearing next month.

He is to plead guilty to one count that on October 29 last year he used a carriage service to harass,and one of persistently breaching a court order,over offending earlier this year.

Among the 30 charges withdrawn by police prosecutors was one count of recklessly causing injury to the woman,who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Setka did not say anything in court and has had his bail extended.

The state opposition's industrial relations spokesman,Nick Wakeling,said Premier Daniel Andrews had"been keen to stand beside John Setka"in the past,but now needed to demand the union movement sever ties with Mr Setka."The standard you walk past is the standard you accept,"he said.

Shadow treasurer Louise Staley also said the Premier – who has been outspoken about male violence against women – needed"to show his words are not hollow rhetoric"and ensure Setka was expelled from the Labor Party.

A spokeswoman for Mr Andrews said because the matter was still before the courts it would be inappropriate for the Premier to comment.

Setka returned to work at the union on Monday – the day after the federal election – having been on leave for several weeks. He is understood to expect to stay on as state secretary.

One Labor MP said it was not good enough that more in the Labor Party were not demanding that Setka quit as the union's state secretary.

"Where are the men of our movement calling this out? If this was a conservative person,the entire movement would be demanding their resignation. These are serious offences he has pleaded guilty to."

John Setka talks to thousands of union members at a 2015 rally.Credit:Justin McManus

Setka has a long history in the Victorian labour movement,and has many powerful enemies after many years of aggressively taking on employers,governments,building inspectors and police.

He began work in the union movement with the Builders Labourers Federation,which was deregistered by federal and state Labor governments in 1986.

In recent times Setka and the union's assistant secretary,Shaun Reardon,beat blackmail charges that many in the union movement regarded as a politically motivated beat-up stemming from Tony Abbott’s royal commission into unions.

On Thursday, The Age asked Mr Reardon if Mr Setka would remain the state secretary after indicating he would plead guilty to some of the allegations against him. Mr Reardon said he had no comment to make.

The Victorian Trades Hall Council,which campaigns with affiliated unions in the state,includes among its membership the CFMMEU.The Age contacted Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari to ask if it was appropriate for Mr Setka to remain in his job."I don't think I can make comment,"Mr Hilakari said.

Sally McManus,secretary of the ACTU,was also contacted for comment on whether Setka's position as state secretary of the Victorian CFMMEU is tenable,or if he should now resign. Her spokesman did not respond.

Setka will return to court on June 26 for a plea hearing.

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