SA union official found in contempt

A union official who warned he would "go to war" with management on a construction site in Adelaide unless a member was given a job has been found in contempt of the Federal Court.

Comments made by Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union representative Jim O'Connor contravened an order of the court in relation to access to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site.

That order was imposed after an earlier incident on another Adelaide construction site.

Justice John Mansfield ruled on Wednesday that Mr O'Connor said words to the effect of "you don't want to go to war with us" in relation to demands that a union member be found a job on the RAH site.

He said those words amounted to a threat of industrial action.

"I accept the submission ... that the statement of O'Connor amounted to a threat to take action which would be unlawful, illegitimate and unconscionable, that is to take a form of industrial action," Justice Mansfield said.

The case was brought before the court by Fair Work Building and Construction which declined to comment as the question of penalty was still to be resolved.

The union says it will consider an appeal.