James Vassilopoulos, Melbourne

The Communication, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and the community group Union Solidarity have achieved a victory against Australia Post management, which is now seeking mediation in the union's case to reinstate Peter Vining, the union delegate at the Fitzroy Mail Delivery Centre.

A rally in support of Vining outside the Federal Court on February 3 was attended by 50 people. Participants were told that Vining was unfairly sacked before Christmas. He was accused of saying to a customer who was illegally parked in the centre's car park, “You're not gonna park there are ya, ya stupid woman?” Vining says he did not talk to the woman and has two witnesses supporting him.

An independent witness claimed hearing management personnel boasting about “exaggerating” the complaint in order to “get rid of” Vining. Vining has been reinstated, but he has been transferred to a lower level and to a work site an hour's drive away.

After the sacking, an Australian Industrial Relations Commissioner recommended that the decision to dismiss Vining was harsh and warranted correction, but that he should be transferred to a lower position.

State secretary of the CEPU postal and telecommunications branch Joan Doyle told Green Left Weekly that “Howard’s IR legislation has come to Fitzroy” and that Australia Post is firmly under the control of the government. “If unions can't rely on stewards then they won't exist and if stewards can't rely on unions to protect them then they won't exist”, she said.

From Green Left Weekly, February 8, 2006.
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