Statement attributable to Jo Schofield, National President, United Workers Union:
Complaints of inappropriate behaviour at United Workers Union are comprehensively investigated, and disciplinary consequences imposed where claims are substantiated. This includes with respect to its WA office and to all officials, regardless of seniority.
In relation to recent reports based on unnamed sources, following lengthy internal inquiries we have found nothing to substantiate any underlying allegations and we therefore reject those allegations out of hand.
And while the inquiries are continuing, staff said to be facing the alleged inappropriate behaviour have rejected unfounded allegations being made on their behalf.
In our view, a full account of events establishes that the allegations are unfounded.
The petition
Staff across the union were presented a petition which was put together by staff. It was not endorsed by the Union, however staff in the workplace were presented with the opportunity to sign it.
In relation to that petition United Workers Union has then faced unfounded allegations.
To be clear: we have found no evidence that there was any attempt to pressure staff either before or after signing that petition. Nor has the Union been provided with any particulars relating to any other incidents. Instead, United Workers Union is being dragged into a rumour mill from unnamed sources that has no basis in facts about the actual course of events.
Provisional Improvement Notices
In pursuit of these unfounded allegations the Union was served with two Provisional Improvement Notices to WorkSafe WA, which were both cancelled, and an appeal of this cancellation was also rejected.
These PINs were cancelled because they were unable to be specific about the allegations of inappropriate behaviour – therefore the cancellation cannot be seen in any way as a technicality.
The issuing of the PINs was not supported by a majority of staff in WA, nor is there support for the circulation of unfounded allegations against people in the United Workers Union. Workers in the WA office subsequently voted overwhelmingly to remove the Health and Safety Representative who issued the PINs from her role. This is a process independent of the Union and a decision solely of the workers involved.
Senator Payman
We are aware Senator Fatima Payman issued a statement about allegations being made against United Workers Union by unnamed sources.
No issues were raised by Senator Payman during her period of employment at United Workers Union or subsequent to her appointment as a Senator – an appointment we fully supported.
Summary
The sources of these rumours are unnamed and no person has complained or provided any specific allegations to the Union for it to investigate.
We find it unfortunate that unnamed sources with a grievance have chosen to attack senior United Workers Union officials – including through potentially defamatory and unfounded allegations in the media.
To date United Workers Union has been reported as facing a class action when no class action has been lodged, and other sensationalist claims that have no basis in fact.
Our understanding of WorkSafe WA’s continuing interest in this matter is a review of United Workers Union’s internal processes, which we don’t wish to pre-empt but we anticipate as being uncontroversial.
The facts are that United Workers Union has fulfilled its workplace health and safety obligations in the WA office and takes its obligations extremely seriously.
The union is issuing a Concerns Notice to media outlets for issues related to reporting on this matter that include potentially defamatory statements and failing to put allegations fully to the union before publication.