Fair Work Ombudsman looked into Church of Scientology

[Cherished]

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/fair-work-ombudsman-looked-into-church-of-scientology/story-e6frfku0-1225874128083


THE industrial inspectorate has confirmed it is investigating the employment practices of the Church of Scientology.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson told a Senate estimates hearing it had looked into the controversial religious group but declined to give details.


It is understood opposition frontbencher Eric Abetz wrote to the ombudsman in March with the idea of an inquiry.


The inspectorate has subsequently interviewed Scientology members along the east coast of Australia to establish whether they are being properly remunerated for their church work.


Asked by independent Senator Nick Xenophon if children were working within the organisation, the Fair Work Ombudsman was coy.


"We don't confirm or deny whether that is likely what they're doing," Mr Wilson told the Senate hearing.

"As a matter of policy, the assertion that ... children are underpaid in and of itself means nothing to the investigation.






"What that means in this particular investigation I don't want to say."


The Senate economics committee is expected to hear evidence from former Scientology members in late June.
It is receiving submissions into a possible public benefits test for charitable and religious groups after Senator Xenophon moved a private senator's bill in May.


He had tried unsuccessfully in March to have a Senate inquiry examine the tax-free status of religious groups, including Scientology.


The government and the opposition also used their numbers in the upper house to defeat his call for an inquiry to look at specific allegations against the church made by former Scientologists.

[I told you I was trouble]

Well, well, well (the walls come tumbling down).

Good find Cherished.

:p

[scooter]

Nice.:thumbsup:

It's always good to kick an abusive cult when it's down.:yes:

Is there to be other media soon?:happydance:

[Carmel]

:giggle:

The Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson may be tight lipped now, but when his office has completed their investigation, he'll be spilling the beans - Can't wait! :happydance:

In the meanwhile, this media is great. :D

[Lohan2008]

THE industrial inspectorate has confirmed it is investigating the employment practices of the Church of Scientology.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson told a Senate estimates hearing it had looked into the controversial religious group but declined to give details.


So if the Ombudsman had not found anything to report, wouldn't she say so?

[Feral]

Nice to see it in the press.

The WPO is quite serious about performing a thorough investigation into the employment practices of Scientology in Australia.

They are charged with correcting any inequities which is good news for any that feel they've been wronged.

[Feral]

Does anyone remember those signs that used to in front of the orgs?

Didn't they say "Position vacant. Apply within"?

Does anyone have a photo of one or know what policy it came from?

[Carmel]

THE industrial inspectorate has confirmed it is investigating the employment practices of the Church of Scientology.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson told a Senate estimates hearing it had looked into the controversial religious group but declined to give details.


So if the Ombudsman had not found anything to report, wouldn't she say so?
The FWO is a "he", and until the investigation is complete, with findings and rec's, it would be totally inappropriate for him to say *anything*.

They are getting the info though, so what do ya reckon? Rest assured, they will have something to say down the track, and meanwhile the media are chomping at the bit over this, waiting and watching.

Incidentally, this FWO invest is *completely* independent of the current inquiry on the tax exempt status......Interesting times 'down under', for exes and CofS alike, except it feels a lot better on one side than the other. :)

[behindmycamel]

Does anyone remember those signs that used to in front of the orgs?

Didn't they say "Position vacant. Apply within"?

Does anyone have a photo of one or know what policy it came from?

Now Hiring is all that comes to mind. Been there for years in my town.
Fold out small sign on the pavement near the entry door. Sign is as old as the crappy Stress Test graphic.

Hmmn. Seems like something major is going down :coolwink:

[Carmel]

Does anyone remember those signs that used to in front of the orgs?

Didn't they say "Position vacant. Apply within"?

Does anyone have a photo of one or know what policy it came from?
They did indeed. I don't have a photo, and I don't know that it was covered in policy, but at least there are a couple of us who have passed on that info including Tim U who has pretty good recall on it all.

In Sydney, when that sign went up, that's when we first started getting non-English speaking staff, or at least staff who couldn't understand English or be understood by Australians.

Anyone out there who could also corroborate this, or who has *any* first hand experience on the matter? If so, could ya please pm Feral, Happy Days, OutEthicsOfficer or myself.

[Panda Termint]

I think you can see the Positions Vacant sign in one of the videos done outside the Castlereagh St org, maybe the Chaser's Gullibility Test one. It's probably in more than a few Anon photos too.

[Carmel]

I think you can see the Positions Vacant sign in one of the videos done outside the Castlereagh St org, maybe the Chaser's Gullibility Test one. It's probably in more than a few Anon photos too.

Ooooohhh! Any chance of you chasing that down?

[minnie]

Here are some images, although the quality is not that good:

From outside the AO:

http://www.suburbia.net/~fun/scn/orgs/syd/ao9907-2.jpg

http://www.suburbia.net/~fun/scn/orgs/syd/ao9907-3.jpg

Perth org:

http://www.suburbia.net/~fun/scn/orgs/perth/m-s-sign.jpg

Sydney org:
http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/viewtopic.php?t=23857&sid=49adf9e49ae7d85661fb581f752592eb (scroll to 2nd photo:has Now Hiring sign on the window)

[minnie]

You can see the sign is there, but not what's on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBDDOMfcx8I

[Panda Termint]

It's not really apparent in the Chaser Video (Free Gullibility Test) but I've definitely seen it in a video.
Maybe Zhent has pix? I'll look some more when I have time.

[Phoenix Rising]

Ooooohhh! Any chance of you chasing that down?
Nothing on the Chasers Gulibility Test, have it and just checked it out.

[minnie]

deleted

[Panda Termint]

Here you go, Carmel. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XUeU9P6_f1A/R6w8pDfmlMI/AAAAAAAAAD0/UcMpZfPFTFg/s1600-h/08022008070.jpg

Turn your head to the side and look through the door.... Now Hiring! See my next post.

[ElenaP]

Very good!!! \

DM was talking about some avalanche in his recent events, right? Was he referring to this year, especially this past month? :D

[Panda Termint]

like dis?
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac77/PandaTermint/Now_Hiring2-1.jpg
from dis.
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac77/PandaTermint/Now_Hiring.jpg

[Smilla]

like dis?

from dis.
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac77/PandaTermint/Now_Hiring.jpg

It must take lots of practice to be able to make a simple sign look so creepy.

[Carmel]

like dis?
<images snipped>

Very cool, Panda....Thanks, that'll do it! :thumbsup:

[Feral]

Thanks Minnie and Panda!

[Carmel]

Thanks Minnie and Panda!
Oh, I missed Minnie's........Thanks Minnie! :thumbsup:

[Feral]

It's OK, I asked for it so I thanked them ....both of them.:whistling:

I hev a excellance comm bycicle.

[Carmel]

It's OK, I asked for it so I thanked them ....both of them.:whistling:

I hev a excellance comm bycicle.
On ya bike then, and chase up the source of those pics. :D

[Chess]

Yep, the wheels, they are a turning...
The depth and character of offensives against the Cof$ is bewildering. I get the feeling the sun is indeed going to set on that Organisation in a broadside - won't it be something when the first criminal charges are laid.

[Minuet #1 in G]

Having the fair work ombudsman investigate and report will be very interesting. There is no doubt that scientology has a master servant relationship with staff. They are definately employees, not volunteers. You are supposed to keep to a definite work schedule, subject to direction from seniors etc.
There is essentially no pay, no super, no OHSW, bullying and harrassment is rife. And, you get billed for your training when you leave! Oh gawd they will have a field day with this.

[OTBT]

On ya bike then, and chase up the source of those pics. :D

Now Hiring sign in Perth Org around 1999

http://www.suburbia.net/~fun/scn/orgs/perth/

[OTBT]

Scientology Employment Policy Letters (http://forums.whyweprotest.net/123-leaks-legal/scientology-employment-policy-letters-50307/)

direct link:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5VP1DVY5

/ Edit

Emma, don't worry. Everything in the document is Fair Use short excerpts, not full leaks.

[AnonKat]

:giggle:

The Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson may be tight lipped now, but when his office has completed their investigation, he'll be spilling the beans - Can't wait! :happydance:

In the meanwhile, this media is great. :D

Is he good ?

[minnie]

Just right mouse click 'properties' on each photo. :)


On ya bike then, and chase up the source of those pics. :D

[minnie]

To me it looks they are trying to depict black people, but I find it offensive because it seems to invoke the 'black and white minstrel' look, thus not even a real black. That's how it grabs me - might just be a personal spin I have on it. :confused2:


It must take lots of practice to be able to make a simple sign look so creepy.

[minnie]

Pass! :D


It's OK, I asked for it so I thanked them ....both of them.:whistling:

I hev a excellance comm bycicle.

[BC1]

What about this old news report? Today Tonight did a story a while ago about children working in Scientology. There are two parts to the story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSm2hoqVhyE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEbLLjvpT7E&feature=related

[Emma]

Hmmm....What have I got in my collection?

[BC1]

At least they are somewhat honest in page 2 of Emma's collection, they clearly state long hours and low pay. Not sure how many people that attracted! :)

[He-man]

Hmmm....What have I got in my collection?

Clearly they were joking with the local public. :laugh:

[Lohan2008]

Any dates on when report will be out?

Potential outcomes:

Unclaimed money for employees
Some Fair Work Ombudsman investigations and voluntary compliance cases result in us receiving payments for outstanding wages and entitlements. This happens when an employer cannot pay money owed to an employee because the employee has left their employment and the employer can not locate them. In these cases the employer pays the money to the Commonwealth.

https://www.fwo.gov.au/Investigations/Potential-outcomes/Pages/default.aspx

[OTBT]

THE industrial inspectorate has confirmed it is investigating the employment practices of the Church of Scientology.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson told a Senate estimates hearing it had looked into the controversial religious group but declined to give details.

Here are a few numbers that Aussie investigators might want to examine for historical purposes.

The South Australian scientology management corporation COSRECI paid sub-standard wages to scientology employees in the UK last decade. More facts and figures at the link:

http://solitarytrees.net/cowen/misc/ukstat.htm


The main Scientology body in the UK is COSRECI, a South Australian corporation set up on 19 October 1976 which began activities in the UK on 1 May 1977. It took over management of UK Scientology from the Church of Scientology of California (which was subsequently asset-stripped to prevent Larry Wollersheim from collecting his settlement). It appears to have been set up as a vehicle for getting back-door tax exemption in the UK, which was gained under reciprocal UK-Australian tax rules.
...

Between 1992 and 1997, the accounts gave the number of employees and the wages bill. Dividing one by the other gives some indication of how much they are being paid on average — not surprisingly, it's a pittance, well below the national minimum wage and below even state unemployment benefit. (Yes folks, you would be better off unemployed than employed by Scientology.) Staff pay is normally the largest single cost element of a business, but Scientology seems to have avoided this particular problem:

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5772/compm.jpg

[Anonycat]

We Don't Need No Stinking Employment Practices!

http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/stinking%20badges.jpg

[Lohan2008]

Has the workplace Ombudsman put forth findings yet?

[OTBT]

Has the workplace Ombudsman put forth findings yet?

bump

Any news?

[Outethicsofficer]

Not as yet guys, they will and i should think any time in the next few weeks. It will happen.
James

[OTBT]

Scientology tries to claim that all of the staff, Sea Org staff, Org staff, and Mission staff are all volunteers and members of a religious order, and are not employees and are not subject to minimum wage.

Here is dox on a salaried scientology employee in California. (Sorry, can't find anything about Aussie scientology employees, but this might be useful).

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/69-cos-front-groups/criminon-using-h1b-visas-68988/#post1281218


Oh looky there. Is that a SALARIED SCIENTOLOGY EMPLOYEE?
...

So, the Employer, The Church of Scientology of Orlando, Inc., gets an H1B visa approved for a Building Expansion Officer, and hires him / her for $43,300.00 per year.

I just want DAVID MISCAVIGE to notice that the EMPLOYER, Scientology, HIRED an EMPLOYEE for a WAGE of $43,000 per year.

So, just curious, what are the wages of scientology employees in Australia?

[morizo]

On what kind of visa are non-aussie staff members working?