Union says RSCPA "kills"...

Date: 22 November 2002

An animal welfare worker is taking the RSPCA to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission after being disciplined for saving the life of a two week old Burmese kitten.

Kirsten Rigby defied RSPCA procedure which demands that young strays be euthanased. Instead, she sought the assistance of a veterinary nurse with a reputation for helping find foster homes for cats.

The actions of the worker came to the attention of RSPCA management when the kitten was later claimed by it's owner. If not for the actions of the RSPCA staff the kitten would have been dead before the distraught owner appeared to claim it back.

While this story had a happy ending for the kitten and it's owner, Kirsten was threatened with the sack for her actions. Following the intervention of the Australian Services Union this threat was revoked, but Kirsten has been moved out of the animal welfare section into the Association's administration office. The move has resulted in a $300 a fortnight reduction in salary and considerable distress for this committed animal welfare professional.

The incident is far from the only recent example of inflexible bureaucracy taking precedence over lives at the RSPCA. A long time RSPCA volunteer, who had been named "volunteer of the year", was recently stood down for 12 months for saving the life of a dog against the Association's procedures.

ASU President, Martin Foley said, "The RSPCA has lost the plot. It is meant to save animals. Our member did what the RSPCA says it is there to do...and gets the doghouse treatment".

According to ASU Organiser Saadet Ozdemir, "These incidents challenge the public perception that animals received by the RSPCA will be cared for and found new homes. In fact, inflexible rules which prevent staff from acting in the best interests of the animals abound, leading to unnecessary death and considerable distress for our members."

The RSPCA's Operations Manager, David Priess, summed up the Association's attitude when he told a meeting of staff "if you've got a heart, go and get a job at Pizza Hut".

Kirsten Rigby's hearing in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission is scheduled for Monday 25 November 2002 at 10am.

You can support Kirsten and the RSPCA workers by sending a message of protest to the RSPCA at davidpreiss@vicrspca.aust.com

For further information

Contact:	Jason Gibson
Union:	Australian Services Union - Vic MEU Private Sector Branch
Phone:	03 9342 3418
Fax:	03 9342 3499
Email:	jgibson@meupsvic.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.asuvic.org

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