Victoria’s appeals court has upheld a ruling made in April last year that Austin Health treated a manager unfavourably because of her sex.
The Victorian Supreme Court ruled in April 2022, that Austin Health had directly discriminated under the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act against a department manager, when it failed to negotiate her salary, but continued to pay six male employees in her department at over-agreement rates.
The manager discovered that Austin Health paid five male workers who reported to her above their classification in the enterprise agreement, including a senior technician who received $41,000 a year more than her.
The department manager attempted to negotiate her wages six times over seven years, and Austin Health refused to engage with her.
In last year’s judgment, Justice Richards described the manager’s complaint as ‘systemic discrimination by a large organisation.’
It’s alarming and frankly disappointing to see that in 2023, women are still subject to discrimination at work based on their sex.
Thank you to all members who have reached out to join the Union Women’s Committee.
We are holding our Inaugural meeting on Thursday, May 11t at 5.30pm online via zoom.
If you feel passionately about improving the rights of working women, then we invite you to join us! Please contact us for more information.
