Vinnies refutes "corporatisation" claims

The NSW St Vincent de Paul Society has emphatically rejected
allegations by the Australian Services Union that the charity is
becoming "corporatised".

In a statement, the Society says it "absolutely rejects" the comments of the ASU secretary, Sally McManus.

"The
Society has been one of the most vocal charities in raising concerns
about elements of the new industrial framework," CEO John Picot said.

The
suggestion that the Society is intending to "drive its workers into
AWAs" is a complete fabrication by the Union and is unambiguously
rejected by the Society.

Ms McManus had earlier been reported as
saying it was a scandal that an organisation with such a wonderful
history of charity would now seek to turn itself into a corporation to
drive its workers into AWAs - Australian Workplace Agreements.

But
according to Mr Picot, "the ASU is being extremely mischievous in
presenting two staff dismissals as part of such a fanciful drive".

"The
matter is before the Industrial Commission and it would be
inappropriate for the Society to comment other than to totally reject
the ASU spin," Mr Picot said.

"The Society is in the process of surveying its employees to see how we can improve their working conditions."

"The
Society believes that unions have a contribution to make to the
workplace, but we are very disappointed with the belligerent attitude
the ASU has adopted in the past six months.

"The union's secretary, Sally McManus has been invited to meet with me now on two occasions and has ignored the invitation.

"Their
behaviour in this matter in my view has been disgraceful and does
nothing to encourage the Society to sit down at the table with the ASU."

"It seems to be a reaction to the ASU's failed recruitment drive," Mr Picot concluded.

CathNews on Friday carried a Catholica
report claiming that volunteers and paid staff plus the 100,000-member
Australian Services Union have pledged to fight corporatisation
attempts "tooth and nail".

Catholica quoted Ms McManus as
saying that two Vinnies workers "have been unfairly dismissed as part
of the attempts to turn a charity into a corporation and drive people
into WorkChoices contracts."

"They were sacked because they insisted on their right to act as a group in their dispute with management," Catholica said.

Editor's note: In Friday's headlines, CathNews
misinterpreted the statement as meaning that the workers had been
sacked for refusing to sign WorkChoices contracts. The story has been
removed. CathNews apologises for the error.