Vic: Unionist fined $200 for coercion

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2000
Vic: Unionist fined $200 for coercion

Three court cases and thousands of dollars worth of litigation has ended with a union
organiser being fined $200 for a breach of the Workplace Relations Act.

FINBARR DOWLING, 38, of Brunswick, is the first person to be charged with coercion
under the Workplace Relations Act in Victoria by the federally-funded Employment Advocate.

Mr DOWLING, an AMWU state organiser, was charged with coercion after attempting to
negotiate an enterprise agreement with a sub-contractor ANTONY PONDELJACK for welders
at Northcote Shopping Centre in October 1998.

The court heard he organised two meetings with Mr PONDELJACK on behalf of about five
workers on the sites.

But there was an altercation between the pair after Mr PONDELJACK failed to attend the meetings.

Mr PONDELJACK alleged Mr DOWLING had threatened to blackban him if he failed to sign
up to a new agreement.

The charges were dismissed in the Melbourne Magistrates Court two years ago and went
on appeal to the Full Bench of the Federal Court.

The case returned to the Magistrates Court for sentencing today.

Magistrate MICHAEL SMITH fined the AMWU $400 and Mr DOWLING $200.

It's believed that the total legal costs will have cost the Employment Advocate about $100,000.

AAP RTV hmg/clr/jx/jn

KEYWORD: DOWLING (MELBOURNE)

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