Council bullies legal bid

Andrew Mathieson
DISGRUNTLED former employees plan legal action against City of Greater Geelong over alleged workplace bullying.
Former City Hall staffer Pam Clark said several sacked workers had contacted lawyers and hoped to launch a class action.
Others had claimed that City managers bullied them out of their jobs, forcing them to quit, she said.
Ms Clark has previously claimed she was sacked after making complaints about work conditions and was forced to sign an agreement not to discuss the allegations.
The City’s lawyers threatened legal action against Ms Clark after she discussed workplace bullying at City Hall on Geelong community radio station The Pulse in August.
Ms Clark said up to 50 former City employees believed they were unfairly sacked.
About 12 were considering a workers’ compensation claimS for unfair dismissal, she said.
Melbourne lawyer Vincent Verducci said the complaints could lead to a class action.
Mr Verducci said he had been in contact with some of the former employeers but was unsure whether they had the numbers for a class action.
“I haven’t got in contact or spoken to all of them yet,” he said.
“I understand there are people who are dissatisfied but we haven’t gotten the word to start (a class action).
“At the moment, that’s where I am heading but I have some instructions for action over Workcover matters.”
Mr Verducci confirmed three former workers were taking legal action.
A former employee, who did not want to be identified, told the Independent he bought a new house after moving to Geelong only to be sacked weeks later.
“I didn’t get any warning and there wasn’t any due process or any opportunity to appeal it,” he said.
“It (moving to Geelong) was on the strength of having previously being told I would be right to go and buy a house.”
The former employee said he was shocked a government institution would treat its workers unfairly.
“Even before I was pushed out of the job, while I was there I was given a pretty hard time,” he said.
A spokesperson said the City would not comment on the allegations.