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Issue No. 156 | 11 October 2002 |
Work and the Meaning of Life
Interview: The Wet One Bad Boss: Like A Bastard Unions: Demolition Derby Corporate: The Bush Doctrine Politics: American Jihad Health: Secret Country Review: Walking On Water Culture: TCF Poetry: The UQ Stonewall
Muslims Snubbed in Discrimination Laws Workplace Racism Rife Post S11 Qantas Directors Bust Wages Freeze Dad�s the Word For Steelworkers Funeral Workers Dig in Their Heels Unions Expose Truth Of McDonalds� People Promise Gay and Lesbians Workers To Meet VTHC Urges Compassion For Colombian Refugees New Zealand Workers Win Paid Parental Leave WorkCover Inspectors Off the Road Unions On Call For Working Young
The Soapbox Postcard Month In Review The Locker Room Bosswatch Wobbly
Direct Voting Rights Iraq is a Gobalisation Issue Too Letter to George Dubya WTO and Schools Casual Thought
Labor Council of NSW |
News Muslims Snubbed in Discrimination Laws
The Labor Council of NSW has called on the Carr Government to review the legislation in the wake of the case of a Muslim IT worker who has been threatened with sack for praying at work. Kamal El-Masri, a member of the Australian Services Union, has been threatened with dismissal from telecommunications company TPG over his commitment to praying, in his own time, at work. Company management issued the edict, even though Kamal had negotiated the afternoon prayer time in return for a shorter lunch break for the last two years. He's taken an action to have the dismissal threat withdrawn to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, which will hold further hearings over the coming week. ASU assistant secretary Sally McManus says that Kamal has been forced to choose between his religion and his job "The ASU has seen a rise in these instances over the last year and is concerned that it is indicative of a general rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in the community," McManus says. "The stubbornness and inflexibility of this company demonstrates this." Broader Review Required El Masiri's plight has highlighted anomalies in NSW anti-discrimination law, which confine protection from religious discrimination to 'ethno-religious groups". This means that religions - such as Islam and Christianity that span more than one culture - are not covered by the Anti-Discrimination Act. "It is outrageous that workers should be forced to choose between their jobs and their religions," Labor Council secretary John Mr Robertson says. "In Kamal's case, there is no evidence that his beliefs were infringing on his work - indeed he was making up the ten minutes in his own time." Robertson says it's also disappointing that the Australian Services Union, who acted on El Masri's behalf, had been the victim of hate calls today. "Trade unions are a leading voice in celebrating cultural diversity, we will continue to do so and do not believe our staff should be subjected to such bigoted behaviour." The Labor Council has convened a meeting of all affiliates to discuss the rise in religion-based discrimination.
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