Political victimisation

Political victimisation

By Peter Annear

Ditching promises there would be no recriminations against public service workers who supported the November 10 Victorian strike and rally, Premier Jeff Kennett is apparently collecting information on strike participants, and will move to sack State Public Services Federation vice-president Bill Deller from his public service job.

At a November 13 press conference, Kennett said he was seeking legal advice in preparation for sacking Deller. The SPSF was "outraged at this cowardly act", which contradicts earlier agreements with the union there would be consultation over the government's plans.

Deller is on leave from his usual job in order to undertake his full-time union position, paid for by union members. The sacking is patently an act of political victimisation.

SPSF Victorian president Kay McVey said on November 12 the union had received many reports from members that management was compiling lists of workers who participated in the November 10 action.

The union executive directed members to place a ban on the collection and collation of the data. It was a "further example of intimidation and coercion which seems to be endemic in the practice of this government", said McVey.

From GLW issue 80