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Issue No. 275 | 05 August 2005 |
Iemma�s Dilemmas
Interview: On Holiday Unions: One Day Longer Industrial: Never Mind the Bollocks Politics: Spun Out Economics: If the Grog Don't Get You .... History: Taking a Stand International: The Split Legal: Pushing the Friendship Poetry: Simple Subtractions Review: Sydney Trashed
Discriminating Centrelink on Charges Taxpayers to Fund Advertising Orgy Constituents Don�t Trust Andrews Howard Steamroller Hits Building Sites
Parliament The Soapbox The Locker Room International Postcard
AFL-CIO Not The Only War Be Afraid Frame Up We Love Morris ANew Development A Readers Suggestion
Labor Council of NSW |
Bad Boss Carmen's Boss No Fun Guy
Imperial Mushrooms, of Londonderry, dumped Carmen Walacz Vel Walewska when she asked why it also paid a rate 40 cents an hour below the award. "It's put a lot of pressure on me," she said. "My whole life has been turned upside down since I've been working there." Walacz Vel Walawska broke down addressing Unions NSW delegates who applauded her courage in coming forward to shine a light on her treatment. Walacz Vel Walewska said she had been sceptical about the contract, but signed because she was told, if she didn't, she would only work when nobody else was available. "They wanted me to sign this paper there and then, if I did not I was going to be put on call," she said. After learning AWA wage rates were also below award standard, Walacz Vel Walewska let co-workers know and approached management for an explanation. She later received a phone call from her employer, telling her she was sacked because of poor performance, even though she had not received any warnings about her work standards. Walacz Vel Walewska said it had put strain on her and on her relationships. AWAs are the Howard Government's preferred form of employment contract. It plans to reduce compliance requirements in a bid for broader take-up. The AWA Walacz Vel Walewska signed rolled the following award entitlements into a $15.80 hourly rate - holiday pay, holiday loading, long service leave, sick pay, penalty rates, meal allowance, travel allowance, parental leave, bereavement leave, redundancy and severance entitlements. It required her to "remain flexible at all times" and to be available to "work in other areas". The Australian Workers Union's Bill Shorten said the situation exposed the truth on AWAs. "The Howard Government likes to tell us workers are better off on individual contracts - try telling that to Carmen who now has to fight for her job because she dared to stand up for herself and her fellow workers," Shorten said. The AWU will hold a rally outside Imperial Mushrooms next week to push for Walacz Vel Walewska's reinstatement.
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