A union official has been accused of launching a torrent of abuse at construction workers and throwing food on the ground - all over the use of an on-site smoko shed.

Federal Circuit Court documents lodged in late January allege Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) official Scott Vink swore at Gold Coast construction workes, tried to tip one from his chair and told him "Sheds were won by unionists for unionists mate."

Fair Work Building and Construction, the federal building industry regulator, launched the proceedings against the CFMEU, its Queensland branch and Mr Vink over an incident at the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre redevelopment on the Gold Coast in March last year.

It's alleged the union official entered the site for a safety inspection but instead removed workers' property from the shed and food from the fridge before abusing the manager when confronted about it and padlocking the shed.

"It's not your shed. It has been paid for by somebody else," he allegedly said.