Union stands up for 'outrageous' dismissal
The New South Wales Transport Workers Union has come to the defence of a heavy vehicle operator allegedly in the firing line of one of the worst bosses in the industry.
Wayne Forno from the NSW branch of the TWU has released a statement detailing the treatment of a driver who has been berated and abused by his boss for taking time off to take his young daughter to medical specialists.
Mr Forno says a driver employed by MLA Transport was sacked on August 9, 2013 for allegedly failing to attend work, after the man told his boss on the 6th that he had to take the 9th off for an urgent medical appointment with a specialist for his daughter.
The Transport Workers Unions has allegedly seen mobile phone screen shots of a text message exchange over the period, wherein the driver’s boss unleashed a tirade of insult and abuse at the driver and his family.
Mr Forno says at one point the boss threatened to break into the driver’s house, after calling him at 5.30 am.
The Union-rep quotes the driver as saying; “I was in bed with my wife and baby next to me and my wife could hear all the screaming and she was absolutely terrified for her life... especially when he threatened to drive over and bust the doors down.
“I hung up and he rang up again and started screaming abusive language over the telephone again. I then hung up again and he rang me yet again, all the time threatening physical violence.
“The staff turnover rate at this company is so high because this employer is just an out and out bully. I have even been advised to take out an apprehended violence order.”
Mr Forno says the Transport Workers Union believes this one case is a exemplar of a problem rife within the transport industry.
“The dismissal is outrageous. The bloke is just a straight out bully...We will not let him get away with such disgraceful behaviour,” Forno says
“While MLA is a disgraceful rogue employer, the case does highlight concerns about how the industry often fails to provide a fair go for those with family responsibilities.
“The transport and logistics industry is experiencing strong growth and we need to attract the best people to facilitate this growth... as an industry we need to work together to provide a better deal for the workers who are, in every sense, delivering the goods.”