CEPU (Australia Post) delegate sacked for doing his job!

9am. Fri 17 March
Magistrates Court
William St

Peter Vining, a CEPU delegate was sacked late last year (2005) for allegedly telling off a custumer. The CEPU (Posties Union) have vigorously contested the verbal evidence used against Peter Vining. In fact they have stated that

"Peter did not even talk to the woman. He even had witnesses to back him up. We are alleging that the management have colluded to 'get rid of' a strong and effective shop steward."

More info

Labels: Australia Post, Community Protest, Peter Vining

A Fundraiser in support of Peter Vining

Sun 19 February
12 Noon
New CEPU union office
200 Arden St, North Melbourne

Peter Vining was sacked late last year for allegedly telling off a costumer. The CEPU have vigorously contested the verbal evidence used against Peter Vining. The campaign to reinstate Peter has had many twists and turns. Management tried to get a s 127s order against the union for taking illegal industrial action but were unsuccessful. The matter is now before the Federal Court as the union has charged Australia Post under s 298k of the Workplace Relations Act. Australia Post recently agreed to have mediation under the auspice of a Registrar of the Federal Court.

Background Fear and Intimidation | Australia Post at it again | Community Assembly to protect delegates job | Action continues | Rally to defend Peter Vining | GreenLeft Article | 3 Feb rally | Fundraiser for Peter Vining

Labels: Australia Post, Community Protest, Peter Vining

About 40 people attended a rally to defend sacked CEPU shop steward Peter Vining outside the Federal Court building in Williams St Melbourne (Friday 3 February). In a hopeful development Australia Post and the CEPU are going to enter into mediation over the sacking and forceful transfer of Peter Vining and as a consequence Federal Court proceedings were called off. We hope that the offer of mediation by Australia Post is a genuine gesture to resolve the issue. Only time will tell.

Peter Vining was sacked late last year for allegedly telling off a costumer. The CEPU have vigorously contested the verbal evidence used against Peter Vining. Although Australia Post have denied a policy of “targeting union members” the CEPU have presented a compelling case to back up the following statement.

“We are alleging that the management have colluded to ‘get rid of’ a strong and effective shop steward.”

The CEPU have sort to get justice for Peter Vining, who was sacked then later transferred to a lower ranked job in a different centre, in the Industrial Relations Commission, the Federal Court and the internal Board of Reference. Union Solidarity and other union and community activists staged two peaceful assemblies outside the Fitzroy Delivery Centre, solidarity BBQ and last Friday’s rally outside the Federal Court.

Background Fear and Intimidation | Australia Post at it again | Community Assembly to protect delegates job | Action continues | Rally to defend Peter Vining | GreenLeft Article

Labels: Australia Post, Community Protest, Peter Vining

Word Format
Rally leaflet in Colour | Rally leaflet in Black and White

PDF Format
Rally leaflet in Colour | Rally leaflet in Black and White

Labels: Australia Post, Peter Vining

Aussie Post CEPU delegate sacked and victimized for doing his job!

Hands off union delegates and shop stewards,
Rally to defend basic union rights!

9.30am Fri 3 February
Federal Court of Australian
305 William Street, Melbourne

The CEPU are going back to the Federal Court to get justice for their delegate. Join them and send a message to the government and bosses that our union delegates will not be pushed around.

Bring your union banners!

Please download, print and distribute rally leaflets widely.

Leaflets removed after receiving threat from Australia Post

"Australia Post asks that you remove the leaflet from your website and that you do not publish these errors again. Australia Post reserves its right to take further action if you do not comply with this request."

Yours faithfully, Jennifer Porter Corporate Lawyer.

New rally leaflets will be posted soon.

Send endorsement and messages of support to contact@unionsolidarity.org

Background Fear and Intimidation | Australia Post at it again | Community Assembly to protect delegates job | Action continues

Labels: Australia Post, Community Protest, Peter Vining

Picketing action to support CEPU (Communications, Electrical and Postal Union) shop steward Peter Vining continued today at the Fitzroy Delivery Centre.

During today’s action the Chairperson and President of the Atherton Gardens Residents Association visited the picket. The Residents Association together with Councilor Steve Jolly and Union Solidarity proposed a B.B.Q with the Australian Post workers at the delivery centre for Wednesday 1st of February at 1pm.

Peter Vining was sacked before Christmas for allegedly upsetting a customer. A Board of Reference was convened on 5 January 2006 to review the decision to terminate Mr Vining's employment. The following day the Chairman of the Board of Reference decided that the dismissal was harsh. However Peter was a transfered to a lower level, in Australia Post, a Mail Officer at the Melbourne Parcel Facility (MPF).

According to Jennifer Porter, Corporate Lawyer for Australia Post

"The CEPU objected to the transfer to MPF and asked the Chairman of the Board to reconvene the Board to reconsider Australia Post’s decision. The Chairman invited the parties to address him on the issue and Australia Post submitted that custom and practice is that a transfer means a transfer to another facility. The Chairman declined the CEPU’s request to reconvene the Board in the knowledge that Mr Vining was to be transferred to another facility."

So a delegate gets sacked on verbal evidence that the union has always contested. The union is prevented from taking industrial action due to legal threats and falls back internal mechanisms. Even chairman of the Board of Reference decided that the dismissal was harsh. However based on evidence presented Peter Vining is busted down to lower job in a different workplace. The union is now expected to cop it sweet and not complain.

The sacking of militants in Australia Post and the open harassment and legal threats against the CEPU is in violation of international human rights. It's important that all unions oppose and are seen to be opposing this fundamental attack on workers democratic rights.

If you are in a position please attend and advertise this event.

Solidarity B.B.Q. with Australia Post Workers
Australia Post Delivery Centre
Cnr. Gore & Argyle Sts, Fitzroy.
1pm Wednesday, Feburary 1.

Please keep visiting the website as further solidarity action to reinstate Peter Vining to his former position are in the pipeline.

Labels: Australia Post, Community Assemblies, Peter Vining

A community assembly was held today (Wed 25 Jan) to stop the forcible transfer of union delegate, Peter Vining from the Fitzroy Mail Delivery Centre. Australia Post sacked Peter late last year on trumped up charges. After a campaign by his union Peter got his job back but Australia Post are insisting on transferring him against his will to another centre.

The assembly/picket started at 5.30am and ran till 1.30pm. We were successful in disrupting the operation of the Mail Delivery Centre and several staff refused to cross the picket line. At this stage it is unclear whether today’s solidarity action will be enough to protect Peter’s job. Union Solidarity supporters are urged to regularly visit the website for updates and future actions.

Background | Australia Post at it again.

Labels: Australia Post, Community Assemblies, Peter Vining

Peter Vining, the shop steward at Fitzroy Delivery Centre was sacked unfairly on 16/12/05.

He was accused of "telling off" a customer who had parked blocking three other vehicles. Peter did not even talk to the woman. He even had witnesses to back him up. We are alleging that the management have colluded to "get rid of" a strong and effective shop steward.

The CEPU attempted to get a resolution of the matter in the AIRC. Australia Post refused and countered by trying to get s127 orders against the union for taking industrial action. Despite the usual bus load of "high priced" lawyers the Commisssion threw out their application.

The union has now sought an injunction for an urgent reinstatement of Peter in the Federal Court.

A solidarity BBQ is planned for Thursday, December 29th, 2005 at 1.30pm onwards at the CEPU office, 67 Cromwell Street, Collingwood.

THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

For further information ring the union office on 9419 9400.

Labels: Australia Post, Peter Vining

Peter Vining, a CEPU delegate was sacked late last year (2005) for allegedly telling off a custumer. The CEPU have vigorously contested the verbal evidence used against Peter Vining. In fact they have stated that

"Peter did not even talk to the woman. He even had witnesses to back him up. We are alleging that the management have colluded to 'get rid of' a strong and effective shop steward."

The campaign to reinstate Peter has had many twists and turns. Management tried to get a s 127s order against the union for taking illegal industrial action but were unsuccessful. The matter is now before the Federal Court as the union has charged Australia Post under s 298k of the Workplace Relations Act. Australia Post recently agreed to have mediation under the auspice of a Registrar of the Federal Court.

Brief Chronology:
(2005)

• Dec 16: Peter Vining sacked unfairly.
• Dec 29: Solidarity BBQ to support Peter Vining at CEPU union office.

(2006)

• Jan 5: A Board of Reference was convened on 5 January 2006 to review the decision to sack Peter Vining.
  
• Jan 6: Chairman of the Board of Reference decided that the dismissal was harsh. However Peter was transfered to a lower level, in Australia Post, a Mail Officer at the Melbourne Parcel Facility (MPF).
• Jan 25: Community Assembly outside Fitzroy Delivery Centre.
• Jan 27: Action continues with another community assembly outside delivery centre.
• Jan 31: Australia Post lawyers threaten legal action against Union Solidarity over leaflet organizing rally outside Federal Court.
• Feb 1: Solidarity BBQ for Peter Vining outside Fitzroy Delivery Centre.
• Feb 2: Union and Australia Post agree to mediation under the auspice of a Registrar of the Federal Court.
• Feb 3: Rally to support Peter Vining outside the Federal Court.
• Feb 19: A Fundraiser in support of Peter Vining at new union offices in North Melbourne.
• March 17: Rally outside Federal Court
  

Background: Fear and Intimidation | Australia Post at it again | Community Assembly to protect delegates job | Action continues | Rally to defend Peter Vining | GreenLeft Article | 3 Feb rally | Fundraiser for Peter Vining | March 17 rally, Federal Court
Indymedia Reports: 27 Jan Picket | 1 Feb BBQ | 3 Feb rally

Labels: Australia Post, Peter Vining