Press Release
Cancer victim seeks justice over sacking
Thursday October 05, 2006
Lyle Whyte, the 57-year-old worker who was sacked earlier this year after telling his boss he needed time off for chemotherapy treatments, is seeking justice in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC).
Whyte was employed as a warehouse supervisor by Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd in Smithfield when he was diagnosed with cancer in January this year.
After a brief stint in hospital he returned to work to find that he had been demoted.
In June the company sacked Whyte on the basis on “poor performance” half-way through a vital cancer treatment.
Having had no previous performance issues at work, Whyte is convinced his sacking is a result of his cancer treatments.
This is why Whyte is now seeking justice in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
According to National Union of Workers NSW Branch spokesman Mark Ptolemy, the company did not care about Whyte’s illness.
“The management of Ullrich Aluminium knew full well of Lyle’s cancer and the treatment he needed,” Ptolemy said. “They kicked him while he was down. It was the lowest act of any employer I have seen.
“Ullrich have lowered the benchmark for appalling behaviour.”
Whyte is hoping that he will find justice in the AIRC, but isn’t totally confident in the current industrial environment.
“The new post-WorkChoices environment makes it harder for workers to find any remedy to their problems and much easier for bosses to treat employees with little or no regard,” Whyte said.
“Thank goodness I have had my union there to support me all the way.”
The matter of Lyle Whyte v Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd will be heard at 10 am, October 5, 2006 at the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, L14 80 William Street Sydney.
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Last modified 2006-10-05 10:13 AM
