Bullying in the workplace

Date: 25 August 2007

The Howard government has been very vocal about so-called "union thugs" in recent months, when the reality is somewhat different - as a message left on the voicemail of a union official this week clearly shows. The abusive rant, meant to put the frighteners on Simon Whipp, Assistant Federal Secretary of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, who represents Australia's actors and performers, was left by a Sydney-based film producer.

Whipp's offence? To inform the producer that he had enough money in his movie budget to pay his employees at the proper award rate and to pass that information onto the producer's cast and crew. The next day Whipp was greeted at work by a threatening message, warning him that: "If I see you walking down the street, you'd better walk the other way or I'll rip your f***ing eyes out". Says Whipp: "If he'd paid an actor to impersonate a mob boss, he couldn't have done better." "If anyone speaks to you like this at work, don't hesitate to get in touch with your union representative," said Whipp said. "No one should have to put up with this kind of intimidation."

To hear the message in all its glory click here.

For further information

Contact:	Alliance Online
Union:	MEAA
Phone:	02 9333 0999
Email:	mail@alliance.org.au
WWW:	www.alliance.org.au

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