Former Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser, Helen Sourlas has claimed she was unfairly dismissed after calling out the former NSW state secretary for “threatening physical violence” against another staff member.
According to records provided to The Australian by the Federal Court, Sourlas condemned the former secretary, Cory Wright for his threatening behaviour at a staff meeting on February 16.
Sourlas also emailed the AMWU National Secretary, Steve Murphy “outlining numerous instances of bullying and/or harassment that other employees of AMWU had also been subjected to by Wright.”
After being interviewed about the statement, Sourlas received a letter on July 20 last year announcing the outcome of the investigation into Wright. He remains listed as the AMWU’s NSW and ACT secretary.
Through her solicitor, a de-identified copy of this investigation letter was supplied to the AMWU on July 21.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Sourlas claimed she was dismissed after the investigation letter was discovered in correspondence pertaining to Kelly’s case. She said she was unfairly dismissed because she made a complaint in relation to her employment
Allegations made by Sourlas against Mr Murphy were then submitted in a Federal Court case in November, after she had already filed a complaint against the AMWU in the same court in March of last year.
On December 13, Federal Court Judge, Elizabeth Raper ordered the cases to be merged and directed the case to mediation in March of next year.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
