Australian Politics Forum - Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop

Sir Crook

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Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop
Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 11:33am

Factory worker 'sacked' after complaining about heat wave working conditions Sad

Deanna Williams
December 18, 2015.

Yahoo News

FIRST ON 7: A factory worker has allegedly been sacked after complaining about his working conditions during South Australia's extreme heat.

The company denies the claims, which, if true, would be a South Australian first.

The timber packer, Trent Till, says he is not afraid of hard work but was shocked to hear what his boss had to say when he complained about the conditions on the factory floor.

"I was told basically we signed up to work in a sweat shop and if we didn't like it we could resign," he said. Shocked

Mr Till says he was sacked after complaining about the searing heat.

"I was called into a meeting concerning my probation period, which had ended, and told my employment would be terminated," he said.

CFMEU SA district secretary Dave Kirner said: "It's one of the first times we've caught someone red-handed for sacking someone for complaining about the hot temperatures."

Mr Till's termination was reported to SafeWork SA which sent an officer to inspect the premises this afternoon.

The union says it is illegal to take action against an employee for raising health and safety issues, and that many workers are reluctant to rock the boat for fear of losing their jobs.

But the company Mr Till worked for disputes his claim.

"[It was] certainly nothing to do with him bringing up safety concerns," operations minister Paul Wood said.

Apprentice collapses on the job in heat wave

The sacking comes as 17-year-old apprentice Travis Mellor remains in a coma after being struck down by the heat while working on a construction site. Sad

"It's not until someone dies or is seriously injured that everyone says we should do something about it," Mr Kirner said.

This afternoon a 20-year-old contract landscaper was admitted to hospital, also suffering heat stress.

Authorities say 62 people have presented to hospital and 21 were admitted in the 24 hours from 8am yesterday.

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Bam Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21905 Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #1 - Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:06pm I hope every employer who has flouted the law in this way is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 117415 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #2 - Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:18pm I bet the manager who sacked him was sitting in an air conditioned room.
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Dnarever

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Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop
Reply #3 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 7:20am

Quote:

But the company Mr Till worked for disputes his claim.

"[It was] certainly nothing to do with him bringing up safety concerns," operations minister Paul Wood said.

Many managers and executives think that it is ok to sack employees for one reason but claim it is something else.

Many of them seem to see no problem in making up the reason in a flexible manner. I recently had a discussion with a HR executive who was saying that her company had just sacked someone and described the circumstances. It was immediately apparent that the person had denied what she had been accused of and that their was no genuine indication that they had got the right person.

The HR person was indignant that I thought it wasn't the correct thing to do, she had followed the process correctly and to her that meant that they could get away with it even though they had very likely dismissed the wrong person. She had absolutely no ethical concern.

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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 61265 Here Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #4 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 7:21am Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:18pm: I bet the manager who sacked him was sitting in an air conditioned room. After 18 holes of golf and a nice 2 hour Lunch paid for by the company.
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aussie100percent Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 565 Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #5 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:28am Dnarever wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 7:21am: Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:18pm: I bet the manager who sacked him was sitting in an air conditioned room. After 18 holes of golf and a nice 2 hour Lunch paid for by the company. Great idea why not
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Armchair_Politician Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 28509 Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #6 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:37am Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:18pm: I bet the manager who sacked him was sitting in an air conditioned room. I bet the full story hasn't been told.
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aussie100percent Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 565 Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #7 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:40am Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:37am: Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:18pm: I bet the manager who sacked him was sitting in an air conditioned room. I bet the full story hasn't been told. Only the crooked one's side of the story
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Dnarever

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Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop
Reply #8 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:41am

Bam wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:06pm:

I hope every employer who has flouted the law in this way is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Unfortunately they get away with it 98% of the time and even when caught out they barely get a slap on the wrist.

In this case if it goes to fair work and the employee wins he will be lucky to be awarded 2 weeks pay.

With the current unfair dismissal laws it is almost worth the employers while to just ignore it do whatever they like and just cop the very occasional slap with a feather when caught out.

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Bobby.

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Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop
Reply #9 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:52am

Dnarever wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 7:21am:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:18pm:

I bet the manager who sacked him was sitting in an air conditioned room.

After 18 holes of golf and a nice 2 hour Lunch paid for by the company.

It would have been too hot to play golf -
he would have stayed in air conditioned comfort.

It's evil to put people in a sweat shop -
not only does it risk the lives of the people
they can have accidents from losing concentration.

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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 61265 Here Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #10 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:55am Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:37am: Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:18pm: I bet the manager who sacked him was sitting in an air conditioned room. I bet the full story hasn't been told. I bet the full story can't be told.
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Bam

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Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop
Reply #11 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:58am

Dnarever wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:41am:

Bam wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:06pm:

I hope every employer who has flouted the law in this way is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Unfortunately they get away with it 98% of the time and even when caught out they barely get a slap on the wrist.

In this case if it goes to fair work and the employee wins he will be lucky to be awarded 2 weeks pay.

With the current unfair dismissal laws it is almost worth the employers while to just ignore it do whatever they like and just cop the very occasional slap with a feather when caught out.

The worksite has been visited by inspectors from SafeWork SA. A good course of action would be to redlist this employer and send out SafeWork inspectors again the next time the weather is hot. Could be a good payday for the SA government.

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You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to hold opinions that you can defend through sound, reasoned argument.

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cods

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Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop
Reply #12 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:59am

Dnarever wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 8:41am:

Bam wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2016 at 2:06pm:

I hope every employer who has flouted the law in this way is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Unfortunately they get away with it 98% of the time and even when caught out they barely get a slap on the wrist.

In this case if it goes to fair work and the employee wins he will be lucky to be awarded 2 weeks pay.

With the current unfair dismissal laws it is almost worth the employers while to just ignore it do whatever they like and just cop the very occasional slap with a feather when caught out.

you apparently dont read all crooks threads.... where companies are find quite a large amount and rightly so...

we are long past the time when people were discarded at will....

if this story is true.. I do not for one moment think it is the way most workers are treated in this country...

I like to believe we have high standards and most adhere to them...

working in extreme heat can cause no end of problems...

this company needs to be made aware of that... Angry

and made sure it never happens again...

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Saul Goodman Full Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 132 Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #13 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 9:06am I think most companies of any size would be well aware of their OH&S responsibilities in this regard. Not sure about some of the small cowboy run outfits though.
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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 61265 Here Gender:	Re: Sacked -Told We Signed Up To Work In A Sweat Shop Reply #14 - Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 9:14am Saul Goodman wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2016 at 9:06am: I think most companies of any size would be well aware of their OH&S responsibilities in this regard. Not sure about some of the small cowboy run outfits though. Large companies are by far the worst.
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