An accountant was sacked after complaining that she was forced to falsify accounting records. After she informed the board of the company, the Auditor, the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry about her boss’s unlawful instructions she was immediately dismissed.

Outrageously a recent Full Federal Court hearing ruled against the worker ordered her to pay the employer’s cost and upheld the unfair and unjust dismissal because her claim was “vexatious and without reasons” because she did not complain “to a Court or Tribunal” before she was terminated. In other words for refusing to continue to comply with unlawful directions she was sacked. Because she didn’t go to a legal authority first the court offered her no protection.

The case highlights the horrible “catch 22 situation” many workers now find themselves in. If they expose their boss’s illegal or dangerous activities they risk losing their jobs, but not doing so they become complicit in their boss’s activities.

A petition is circulating demanding constitutional protection for workers resisting unlawful instructions. Please download and circulate widely.

download petition to Commonwealth Senate | download petition to Victorian Parliament

background: http://www.upholdingworkersrights.blogspot.com