"Would you please stop harassing this union member!"
What would you think if a union delegate said this to management?
Too right - a union delegate who is doing their job!
Do you think such a statement should provoke a witchhunt under the
Australian Public Service Code of Conduct?
Of course not!!!
But this is exactly what has a happened to Marcus Banks, Community and
Public Sector Union delegate at Moreland Centrelink.
Marcus has been forced transferred to Darebin Centrelink and faces an
investigation for a possible breach of the Public Service Act Code of
Conduct because he allegedly raised his voice when asking a section manager
at Moreland Centrelink to stop harassing a union member.
The issue was referred to Area North Central Management which took up the
complaint under the Code of Conduct without any attempt at local mediation
and in contravention of its own disputes resolution procedure!
CPSU members at Moreland passed a motion demanding Marcus be returned to
Moreland and the charges dropped. The Area North Central delegates
committee also embraced the issue and established a sub-committee to defend
Marcus Banks. Many other groups of CPSU members in Centrelink and
throughout the union nationally have passed motions supporting Marcus and
demanding that the charges be dropped.
CPSU members understand the fundamental principles involved in this case.
The Public Service Act, which includes the Code of Conduct, only became law
last year and gives management far reaching powers to sack workers. This
case, centred on the right of a union delegate to represent a member, is a
critical test case with obvious implications for the whole union movement.
If militant delegates can get picked off by management, the entire union
movement is weakened.
The charges against Marcus Banks must be dropped now!
This is what Left Link subscribers can do to help:
(1) Send messages of solidarity to Marcus c/- [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(2) Circulate the appropriate petition (one for CPSU members and one for
the wider union movement and Centrelink clients) supporting Marcus and
demanding the charges be dropped. Contact Mick Burnside, Secretary of the
Area North Central Delegates Committee on 9611-2407.
(3) Help publicise this case by passing motions of solidarity, discussing
it with co-workers, publishing articles in union journals etc.
(4) CPSU members are invited to get involved in Area North Central
delegates committee sub-committee to defend Marcus Banks. Contact
[EMAIL PROTECTED] for details of the next meeting.
Act today - an attack on one is an attack on all!
Yours in solidarity
Alison Thorne
Member of defend Marcus Banks sub-committee of the Area North Central
delegates committee
--
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