No More Intimidation of Teacher Unionists
Campaign Committee Update -- 10 May 1999
Two cases now pending!
Build on the success!
Help us double what we've raised to date.
Thank you to the many people who have contributed to boosting campaign
coffers since we launched our emergency appeal earlier this year. We have
received more than $1,500 in direct donations, raised over $3,000 from our
wine project and nearly $2,000 from the Multicultural Benefit to Defeat
Union Busting. Cheques continue to arrive on a daily basis.
The response is fantastic, but the need is great. Using courts and tribunals
as an arena to defend working people's rights is an expensive business.
On May 17 the Discrimination Panel of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal will
commence hearing Alison Thorne's case against the management of Northern
Melbourne Institute of TAFE [NMIT]. And, we now have a hearing date for
Barbara Morgan's case: June 1st. Both cases are supported by the Australian
Education Union, which funded legal costs to the completion of conciliation.
The NMIT Unionists Campaign Committee is now pursuing both cases at a full
tribunal hearing.
Barbara Morgan and Alison Thorne were both excellent teachers and local
union leaders NMIT. Barbara, who was secretary of the AEU sub-branch, did
not have her contract renewed in the middle of an industrial dispute. She'd
worked in the language studies department for 9 years. New teachers were
employed at the time Barbara's contract was not renewed. Alison Thorne, a
permanent teacher and the President of the AEU sub-branch, was retrenched
shortly after management threatened to stand her down for applying union
bans. Alison's department then proceeded to employ 9 low paid sessional
teachers while claiming Alison was genuinely in excess.
NMIT Unionists Campaign Committee says no to harassment of unionists, no to
the casualisation of the TAFE system and no to union busting. Help us to
send this message to NMIT management in a way they will understand. By
ensuring we have the resources we need to pursue both cases you'll be
contributing to holding to account an employer which thinks it can victimise
and discriminate against unionists.
What YOU can do:
[1] Send your cheque today payable NMIT Unionists Campaign Committee, PO Box
266, West Brunswick Vic 3055.
[2] Call 9386-5065 to order fund raising wine or for books of raffle tickets
to sell to benefit the campaign.
[3] Attend a party to benefit the NMIT Unionists Campaign Committee on
Friday 21 May from 7.30 pm. Hear ALL the news from week one at the Tribunal!
It's at the home of Barbara Morgan, 61 Ford Street, Ivanhoe. $20 donation or
$10 donation and bring a plate. BYO. Phone: 9499-4798
[4] Come to the Tribunal hearings. Alison's hearing before the discriminati
on panel of VCAT takes place Monday 17 May - Friday 21 May. Attend any time
from 10 am each day at 55 King Street, Melbourne.
[5] Help publicise this important campaign to defend union rights and resist
casualisation. Call 9386-5065 with media leads or to reqest an interview.
LL.VE
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