
Issue No 105		03 August 2001

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News

Cleaner Sacked For Visiting Aging Parents Overseas

By Andrew Casey

A Canberra cleaning company, described as 'unreasonable' by the Industrial Relations Commission for denying annual leave, has now sacked their employee while she's overseas visiting her aging parents.

Limro Cleaning Services sacked Slavica Noveska last Friday.

The company has been involved in a drawn out campaign over annual leave rights for their 50 year old employee.

" This is an atrocious act to sack Slavica while she is overseas visiting her parents in Macedonia ," Gil Anderson ACT LHMU Cleaners Union Secretary said .

" This is an act of bastardry by an obsessive employer who does not want their decisions to be challenged - not by their employees, not by the union or not by the Industrial Relations Commission.

" The company lost a decision in the Industrial Relations Commission, they've retaliated and sacked her while she is overseas."

Unreasonable boss

The Industrial Relations Commission had described as ' unreasonable' Limro Cleaning Services decision to deny Slavica Noveska her annual leave.

Because of the company's behaviour the Commission varied the Award to ensure annual leave rights for all cleaners.

Limro Cleaning Services had lodged an appeal against this decision, which was to be heard on Monday but, after sacking Slavica Noveska on Friday, they acted on Sunday to withdraw from the Industrial Relations Commission proceedings.

" Limro Cleaning Services had been pushing to get a Full Bench IRC hearing to declare that a boss has a right to deny annual leave, " Gil Anderson said.

" The case went before the AIRC with Mrs Noveska winning the right to take her holidays at her chosen time - but the boss was unhappy that his decision had been challenged.

Strong unionist

" Slavica Noveska is a strong unionist and she knows she is not fighting just for herself - she is fighting for all cleaners and all Australian workers.

" She has stuck by her union principles to help rewrite Australian workers annual leave rights with the AIRC coming down on her side declaring the boss unreasonable and changing the Award saying annual leave shall not be withheld unreasonably," Gil Anderson said.

" All Slavica wanted to do was attend a family wedding in Macedonia, see her aging parents - possibly for the last time - and to see her four-year-old grandson for the first time. "

Slavica Noveska has worked for Limro Cleaning Services for six years.

Limro Cleaning Services has the commercial cleaning contract for Parliament House and Calvary Hospital in Canberra.

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  Issue 105 contents

Interview: Whose Advocate?
Employment Advocate Jonathon Hamberger argues the case for his organisation's survival and reveals his secret union past.

Politics: CHOGM: What Should Unions Do?
Activists Peter Murphy and Vince Caughley kick off the debate about what is the appropriate action ot take when CHOGM leaders meet in Brisbane

E-Change: 2.1 - The Changing Corporate Landscape
In the second part of their series on the impact of new technology, Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel try to understand the new corporate playing field.

Unions: Hamburgled
Jim Marr reports that the Employment Advocate has been handed a chance to salvage some credibility by cleaning up anti-union practices in the call centre industry.

Economics: Privatisation: The Dangerous Road
Frank Stilwell argues that the corporate collapses of HIH and One Tel are potent reminders of the downside of �people�s capitalism�.

History: Hard-Earned Lessons
Art Shostack looks at the legacy of the landmark strike by PATCO air traffic controllers 20 years ago.

International: Political Prisoner
Greenpeace campaigner Nic Clyde, facing up to six years gaol in the United States for taking part in a non-violent protest, speaks exclusively with workers Online.

Review: Seven Pubs and Seven Nights
Labor Council's newest recruit, Susan Sheather, shows she respects tradition by going in search of the perfect bar

Satire: Obituary: Mr Rob Cartwright - Captain of Industry
In all fields of endeavour, there are those who command our respect through their sheer commitment to excellence. One such titan was Rob Cartwright, whose chosen field, the obscure HR discipline of "moving people onto individual contracts" lost its greatest practitioner and champion late last night, following a tragic self-inflicted accident.

» Paradise Lost � Insurers Kill Workers' Camp

» Entitlements Betrayal at Centre of Car Crisis

» Piggins Pledges Support for Building Workers

» Legal Win for Wharfie Widows

» Unions Call for Dropping of Greenpeace Charges

» Jubilee Marches On Despite G8 Debt Fatigue

» Cleaner Sacked For Visiting Aging Parents Overseas

» Bracks Plans Curbs on Assembly Rights

» Big Gain for Weight Loss Workers

» Qld Wage Increases Welcomed

» Protecting Children, Protecting Jobs

» Child Labour Fine on McDonald's

» Call for Colombian Inquiry Into Murders

» Activist Notebook