Vic: Union to seek compensation for sacked workers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2000
Vic: Union to seek compensation for sacked workers

By Heather Gallagher, Industrial Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Dec 19 AAP - The communications union will today begin a legal battle for
reinstatement or compensation for 60 staff sacked at phone company Primus' Melbourne offices.

It has launched action in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in an attempt
to get some recompense for the sacked workers.

The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) claims Primus Telecommunications
has sacked 700 staff nationwide, in addition to the 60 in Victoria.

But Primus spokesman George Hazim said the company had simply dismissed 30 casuals
in Melbourne after re-evaluating the business.

He said to suggest 700 staff were dismissed was "bizarre".

The sackings followed a ruling by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
(ACCC) that Primus' door-to-door agents took unfair advantage of elderly and disabled
consumers in obtaining customers.

But Mr Hazim said the sackings were totally unrelated to the ACCC finding.

Former staff today said they were sacked because their manager drew names out of a hat.

Henry Goodwin had worked for Primus for 15 months as a team leader dealing with customer
complaints and working between 35 and 40 hours a week as a "permanent casual".

When he arrived at work last Thursday he found some staff members crying.

"I was called into the manager's office ... and I was told that my services were no
longer needed," he said.

"I asked what was wrong ...," and he goes `It's got nothing to do with your production',
he said, `I've been given a quota to reach and what I've basically done is put my hand
into a hat and drawn out the names which I wish to dismiss'."

Tanya Warren was employed by an agency but was told when she went to switch contracts
to Primus that it was not necessary - that she would receive the same protection.

She said she was called into the manager's office with four other staff and they were
all sacked at the same time.

"We were told to like it or lump it," she said.

AAP hmg/ag/mg/de

KEYWORD: PRIMUS (CARRIED EARLIER) WITH PICS

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