The royal commission needs to shine a "giant light" on what's going on in the whole union movement, a former union official says.
Former Health Services Union official Marco Bolano, who Craig Thomson accused in parliament of conspiring against him, said it was not just "one or two bad apples".
"They were protected," Mr Bolano said.
"Unfortunately what I've seen in the union movement is this is commonplace.
"I hope the royal commission shines a giant light on this."
Mr Bolano was speaking after Thomson was sentenced to 12 months' jail, nine months of which were suspended, for misusing union funds.
Mr Bolano said Thomson's decision to appeal was reckless.
"It could go even worse for him."
HSU national secretary Kathy Jackson, who blew the whistle on Thomson, said there was a larger issue in that the organisation had allowed the Thomson situation to happen.
"It's awful that the Health Services Union and the Labor party have allowed the state of affairs to get to where we are today, where someone is led into custody," Ms Jackson told reporters outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
It was Ms Jackson who first aired the allegations against the ex-Labor MP.
"This is about justice for all working men and women across the nation," she said.
Mr Bolano said unions had lost touch with the workers of Australia.
"It's not about representing workers, it's about personal favours and political favours, unions existing for the political or personal advantage of certain individuals," he said.
