Australia : Workers threatened with dismissal if they joined a union
A NSW utility service company has been ordered to pay $50,000 to a charity after threatening workers with dismissal if they joined a union.
Ventia
Utility Services – formerly known as Thiess Services – provides utility and environmental services to Australian and New Caledonian industrial, government and commercial clients.
In February 2011, Thiess entered into an agreement with Philippines-based Prime Manpower Resources Development to recruit Filipino workers to work in Victoria and Western Australia.
The workers were on 457 visas and signed a contract containing a clause that allowed Thiess to terminate their employment if they engaged in trade union activity.