Richmond Fellowship Threatens to Discipline Pickets

Private mental health provider Richmond Fellowship has threatened to discipline striking employees who picket their workplaces this weekend. Over 100 National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) members are on strike today and tomorrow.

“Richmond Fellowship looks after some very challenging people in the community, including convicted paedophiles We gave the employer 14 days notice of strike action so they could deal with any health and safety issues but at the eleventh hour we received a call from their advocate threatening workers exercising their right to engage in peaceful picketing. The employer has put us on notice they will discipline any pickets at worksites that the employer deems to have ‘confidential addresses’ “, said NUPE Organiser John Kerr.

“As a responsible trade union we have no intention of putting clients or the community at risk and this threat seems a draconian approach to a problem that the employer has had ample to time to discuss with us but has neglected to do so until now” said John Kerr.

“Richmond Fellowship imposes very tight rules around confidentiality, including gagging employees room talking to the media, it seems they’re going one step further and trying to limit striking workers’ rights to peacefully picket their workplace,” said John Kerr.

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