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Issue No. 189 | 01 August 2003 |
The Secret Life of Us
Interview: The New Deal Unions: In the Line of Hire Culture: Too Cool for the Collective? International: The Domino Effect Industrial: A Spanner in the Works National Focus: Gathering of the Tribes History: The Welcome Nazi Tourist Bad Boss: Domm, Domm Turn Around Poetry: Just Move On. Review: Reality Bites
Tough Women Draw Line at Sacking Witness Protection Urged on IRC Howard Enlists Russians for Military Vic Workcover Invests in Worker Misery Whistleblower Sacking Sparks Zoo Walkout Truckie With Conscience Wins Back Job Indigenous Labour honours Tobler Asbestos Blocks Liverpool Road Works
The Soapbox Education The Locker Room Postcard
It Is Still About The Members Isn't It Tom's Purpose
Labor Council of NSW |
News Sacked Mum Goes to the Top
ACTU president Sharan Burrow waded into the debate over 29-year-old, Anne-Marie, calling her situation "fundamental" to working women. Burrow condemned Australia's biggest company, still half-owned by the public, for sacking a woman who worked for it right up to an hour before giving birth. "If Telstra won't do the right thing the Communciations Minister should intervene to see justice done, on behalf of Australians," Burrow said. "It is important that companies learn they cannot discriminate against women on the basis of their family responsibilities." Anne-Marie, who doesn't want her surname used for privacy reasons, told Melbourne's Herald Sun her manager told her she would be a burden as a part-timer. She said the Telstra representative claimed she would be better able to look after sick children if she accepted redundancy, and that her skill levels had dropped during 12 months on maternity leave. During nine years with the company, Anne-Marie was promoted from telemarketer to business analyst. She is a CPSU member and that union has been trying to negotiate a settlement to her situation for a fortnight. CPSU communications division secretary, Stephen Jones, accused Telstra of double standards, pointing out its own HR policy talked about valuing staff and their families. Jones said it was an "unavoidable fact" that when companies such as Telstra embarked on staff cuts they saw women on maternity leave as "vulnerable". Jones said Telstra had been given enough time to deal with Anne-Marie's case and the union was considering unjustified dismissal and anti-discrimination actions.
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