ASU Condemns Sex Discrimination

Date: 16 October 2002

In a shocking display of discrimination Woolworths has refused to pay over 40 clerical staff at Blacktown redundancy payments equal to distribution store employees.

According to the Australian Services Union the company is discriminating against the predominantly female staff employed in the Finance Department at Blacktown by refusing to pay them up to 40 weeks redundancy pay following the company's decision to relocate interstate.

"Earlier this year, Woolworths negotiated a deal with its distribution staff and paid them up to 40 weeks pay," said ASU Secretary Michael Want. "Now when it's time to pay their Finance Department staff they are refusing to negotiate beyond the 20 weeks stipulated in the Award."

The Union says this is a total reversal of the situation in May when, despite the 8 weeks redundancy pay stipulated in the Award, workers were paid up to 40 weeks. "How can the company possibly argue that the male employees require more redundancy then the female staff?" asked Mr Want.

The ASU says that there is provision in the Award to amend the payment and that the company is required to meet in good faith to discuss the options. "The company has continued to state that it will not consider an increase to the redundancy payments - what a farce - they say they will meet but will not budge on the issue," said Michael Want.

In a hearing at the Industrial Relations Commission today the company was advised to negotiate the arrangement with the members. "Our members feel strongly about this and in fact 14 of them were in the Commission today to show their strong support of the union action," said Michael Want.

Mr Want says that the Union will meet with the company tomorrow at 10am and report back to the members at Blacktown. "If the company will not budge we will be taking this dispute to the Anti-Discrimination Board," said Mr Want. "We have had advice from the Board that Woolworths' action could be discriminatory and we will act on this."

For further details please contact ASU Secretary Michael Want on (02) 9265 8211 or Organiser Derek Margerison

For further information

Contact:	Michael Want
Union:	Australian Services Union NSW Clerical & Administrative Branch
Phone:	(02) 9265 8211
Fax:	(02) 9261 2265
Email:	office@asuclerical-nsw.asn.au
WWW:	http://asuclerical-nsw.asn.au/

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