Support grows for sacked Telstra mum

Date: 06 August 2003

The CPSU has been inundated with messages of support for Anne-Marie, the young Melbourne mother made redundant from Telstra the day she returned from maternity leave.

The messages have come from Telstra staff, other CPSU members and Telstra customers. All have expressed outrage at Telstra's handling of the situation and all are calling on Telstra to fix their mistake and find a suitable position for Anne-Marie immediately.

In an attempt to justify their decision, Telstra's spin machine has gone into overdrive. Earlier this week, management released a Media Watch statement to staff claiming that Anne-Marie's position was made redundant "...because the work being done in that position was in part no longer required and in part being done by other parts of the business."

The CPSU questions this as investigations show that most of Anne-Marie's duties have simply been redistributed within her own workgroup. Regardless of this debate about duties, the fact remains that Telstra have failed to address our primary concern - that a staff member was inappropriately targeted for redundancy simply because she was on maternity leave.

As a result of the intense media interest in this story, politicians and opinion leaders, including ACTU President Sharan Burrow, have also called on Telstra to do the right thing.

It is clear that Telstra's corporate image is damaged by poor management practises such as these. As one customer put it "...don't Telstra realise that in a competitive environment, the way companies treat their staff effects the choices we make as consumers. Keep doing this stuff and we'll keep taking our business elsewhere..."

Yesterday the CPSU wrote to the Commission for Sex Discrimination, Pru Goward, asking her to look into Anne-Marie's case.

The CPSU is continuing to urge Telstra to reconsider their decision and find a suitable position for Anne-Marie. We are pursuing this under an internal Telstra process. However, if that fails we will examine other options including the AIRC and various discrimination tribunals. Given the negative media attention this case has already generated for the company, it would be in everybody's interests if Anne-Marie could get back to work as soon as possible.

What you can do
Messages of support to theworks@cpsu.org
Messages of concern to philip.k.jones@team.telstra.com

What you said...
"...We drill Telstra values into our staff, let's start practising what we preach".
Lisa, Telstra Melbourne
"My faith would begin to be restored in what I always felt was a fair employer, when Anne-Marie is unconditionally reinstated and given some sort of guarantee and apology that this won't re-occur" Simon, Telstra
"Women do not lose skills because they have babies...usually they become better faster and more involved workers...Jane, ABC
Mr Jones, you could be the one to change this uncaring world. Please find Anne-Marie a place in Telstra." Steve, AirServices
Gone are the days of loyalty because of actions like yours. Jenny, GBRMPA
I will change my service provider if Telstra don't treat staff correctly. I am only one, but am I the only one? Martha, FaCS
"It is unbelievable in this day and age that an employer thinks women should have to choose between their career and having a family. Guess what Mr Jones! We're capable of having both and doing a great job in each role!" Carol, Medibank Private
"Perhaps the HR department and all management involved in this decision should simply put themselves in her shoes. If you don't have the heart Telstra, then you no longer have my phone business."
Emily, via hotmail
"I hope Telstra get its pants sued off."
Maya, Canberra
"You disappoint me and I am sure most of your customers would feel the same way." Anina, AG Dept NSW
"Any services I have connected to Telstra will be disconnected and transferred to another service provider. Furthermore I will be forwarding the article concerning you to colleagues and friends and advising them to do exactly the same thing."
Lauren, DIMIA

For comment call Stephen Jones 0417 261 152

For further information

Contact:	Stephen Jones
Union:	CPSU - National Office
Phone:	0417 261 152

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