A female Canberra plumbing manager was distraught for days after being abused by a Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union organiser the royal commission was told on Thursday.
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The organiser, Matthew McCann, who also testified, strongly denied the allegation.
He did admit, under cross-examination, to losing his temper: "I got to admit I did lose my cool that day and whilst disappointing I apologise for it".
Nikki Lo Re, of Capital Hydraulics and Drains, told Thursday's hearing into unions the company had been pressured by the CEPU after its workers voted against a union backed enterprise bargaining agreement in May 2013.
Ms Lo Re denied repeated assertions by CEPU solicitor, Brendan Docking, the alleged abuse, which she said included physical contact, "never happened".
"You weren't there when he [Matt McCann] treated me like that," Ms Lo Re told Mr Docking under cross-examination.
Ms Lo Re, who was clearly emotional while giving her testimony, said she had been left badly shaken by the alleged abuse and had to take time off work.
Mr McCann told the hearing he had never touched Ms Lo Re: "I absolutely and utterly refute that allegation," he said. "I am outraged by that, absolutely outraged, it never happened. I categorically deny it."
Ms Lo Re said the altercation, in late March or early April 2014, only ended when another female Capital Hydraulics staff member, alarmed by the raised voices, came to investigate.
The staff member, Deana Stegnjaic, who has since left the company, backed up Ms Lo Re's account.
She said: "Nikki tried to step around the union official, to which he then shoulder barged her. I then said `I think it's time for you to leave'."
Ms Lo Re said: "Matt McCann turned up at Capital Hydraulics and came directly into my office where I was working. It was payroll day. He stood above me, at the side of my desk, and shouted at me.
"It was about why we hadn't signed the EBA and he was quite aggressive. My receptionist Dee walked in and asked 'what's going on?'
"Mr McCann then left, [and] I broke down in tears. I am not usually easily upset, but that day I was. I believe it was because he caught me off guard.
"Whether he accidentally knocked me or barged me, I suppose that depends on who was there."
Ms Lo Re said the incident lasted for less than 10 minutes and that she and Ms Stegnjaic had been alone in the office at the time.
Capital Hydraulics, which employs up to 75 people depending on workload, became involved in the CEPU enterprise bargaining process in 2012.
Ms Lo Re said: "In early 2013 representatives from the union began attending the meetings between the plumbing contractors. One of those union officials was a NSW plumbing union official called Dave Broadley.
"Dave Broadley made it clear the union were not open to negotiations on an individual basis.
"In or around May 2013, Capital Hydraulics employees attended a [EBA] vote held at the plumbing union's office. I was told by our employees they had voted 'no', they did not want an EBA."
Ms Lo Re said the union was not pleased: "My employees told me the union representatives, Damian Kirkwood, Dave Broadley and another man, had been quite cranky with my staff and had sworn at them."
Joe Lo Re, said he and his wife had been "summoned" to a meeting with CEPU staff after the EBA vote.
Mr Lo Re said: "I told the union representatives that my guys weren't interested in becoming members. In response to this [one of the reps] said words to the effect of 'We need memberships, and we don't care how we get them, or who pays for them. You can pay for their membership."
Under cross examination by Mr Docking, Ms Lo Re, said she was anti-union. Mr Lo Re expressed similar views.
