
Issue No 77		10 November 2000

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News

Killer Holidays: Activist Fired for Taking Vacation

In the wake of a survey showing many Australian workers are too scared to take vacations, a call center worker has been sacked after her boss interpreted an approved five day break as an abandonment of employment.

The Stellar call center worker, an activist with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), returned from a week off to be told she had only had three of the five days officially authorized.

The CPSU's Stephen Jones says the action by Stellar management - an offshoot of telstra - amounts to a clear case of victimization of a union activist.

Jones says the woman has been one of the lynchpins of an organizing campaign that has seen the CPSU sign up more than 50 per cent of the Gold Coast workplace in the last six months.

Melinda Maddox has been with the Stellar callcentre in Robina on the Gold Coast for more than 12 months. She is a popular 50-year-old mother of two who has received numerous commendations for the standard of her work.

The CPSU lodged a claim for reinstatement with Stellar today and will be looking at pursuing court action if she is not given her job back.

Earlier this week, the a government-funded tourism survey found that 40 per cent of employees took no annual leave last year. When questioned, the majority of those surveyed said they would prefer to fave their leave as their employment was insecure.

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  Issue 77 contents

US Election: Democracy Version 1.0: Time for an Upgrade America
This week the world's greatest democracy is looking pretty rickety. Michael Gadiel reports from the front line.

Interview: Crikey! A Corporate Commando
He may be a lapsed Lib, but Stephen Mayne is making life hell in the boardrooms of corporate Australia. And he might have some clues for unions too.

Unions: Class of 2000 Hit Redfern
They're just out of acting school and straight into the union. Tomorrow's stars and today's union members.

International: US Cleaners Fast for Justice
Talks between striking janitors and the cleaning contractors who employ them resumed on Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.

History: Racing Radio
The Cup is over, but the races go on, and so does Labor council's radio station, 2KY, as it celebrates its 75th Anniversary.

Legal: A Pandora's In-Box
Screening of employee's emails could be in breach of telecommunications laws, according to Minter Ellison lawyer Megan Dixon.

Satire: Our Snobs Are Tops
Tony Moore on why the lucky country has always been a tosser�s paradise.

Review: Brassed Off With a Tutu
Billy Elliott, currently a hit at the box office, gives a new twist to the working class rags to riches story.

» Games Workers Still Waiting on Closing Ceremony

» Showdown: Howard Faces Court Over Rail Sell-Off

» World Awaits Landmark Slave Labour Decision

» American Voters Reject Vouchers

» Illawarra Fights The Big Bastard

» Retailers Rethink FairWear Retreat

» Killer Holidays: Activist Fired for Taking Vacation

» ANZ Faces Contracts Challenge

» Cup Workers Score Heady Brew

» Meals on Wheels Turns Mean

» Wild Horses Get Maurie's Goat

» Labor Council backs Souths Rally

» Sisters Celebrate Four Years

» Reith to Face the Music

» The Soapbox

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Nader no Fels

» Sartor's Veladrome

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