Telstra unfair dismissal case adjourned

Telstra unfair dismissal case adjourned

By Chris Slee

MELBOURNE — The Industrial Relations Commission hearing of the unfair dismissal case of Mervyn Vogt has been adjourned to April 14.

Vogt, a Community and Public Sector Union delegate at Telstra's Burwood Centre, was sacked in August for producing a newsletter, Nighthawks, for his members.

Forty-eight issues were produced over two years. It covered a range of issues. One was management's failure to inform workers about their terms and conditions of employment. The newsletter printed extracts from the document governing terms and conditions, and eventually forced management to grant workers electronic access.

Nighthawks also reprinted extracts from hearings of the IRC and Senate committees that exposed Telstra management. For example, a Senate committee report accused senior Telstra executives of "misleading the Committee about job losses proposed within Telstra".

Vogt intends to argue that his dismissal violates his rights under common law, the Workplace Relations Act and international law, as well as the implied right of political comment in the Australian constitution.

The Victorian branch conference of the CPSU has voted to support Vogt by paying for his legal representation before the IRC, and to seek the support of the Victorian Trades Hall Council and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

From GLW issue 304