Mobbenfuhrer
3 Jun 2003, 11:07
Anyone else remember this spritely character?
Taken from the Herald-Sun 3/6/03 p11.
Actual story can also be found at http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6534269%255E2862,00.html
Minister's fiancee lays charge of assault
By BARBARA ADAM and SUSIE O'BRIEN
03jun03
THE fiancee of Victoria's Police Minister was assaulted as she tried to offer union help to farmhands, the Industrial Relations Commission was told yesterday.
Hermannua Van Schajik, a financial backer of Australian Mushroom Farms, hit union organiser Tonya Stevens so hard she fell over, the commission heard.
Ms Stevens, who is engaged to Police Minister Andre Haermeyer, filed an assault complaint on Friday soon after the alleged assault.
"I wasn't really hurt, but it came as a bit of a shock because I was just doing my job," she said outside the commission yesterday.
Ms Stevens, an Australian Workers Union organiser, alleged she was hit on the arm and ordered off the property after being accused of trespassing.
AWU advocate Zoe Angus told an Australian Industrial Relations Commission hearing in Melbourne yesterday that Ms Stevens filed a complaint at Seymour police station.
Ms Angus said the alleged attack came after a fiery union meeting held at the farm at Avenel, about 110km north of Melbourne, at which hecklers yelled comments such as "the commies are coming" and "you'd better look out -- the KGB will get you".
The AWU told the commission Australian Mushroom Farms had breached several sections of the Workplace Relations Act in its attempt to sign about 30 employees to individual contracts.
Mr Van Schajik and three other directors of Australian Mushroom Farms did not appear at the commission hearing.
Instead, the directors sent a letter to Commissioner John Tolley stating the Australian Workplace Agreements offered to the farmhands were optional.
"No one has been or will be threatened with termination if they don't sign the AWA," the letter said.
After a brief hearing, Mr Tolley issued a summons for the four directors to appear at a compulsory commission hearing at a date to be set.
Farm director Brian Treloar later said he had not witnessed any assault and could not comment on the alleged incident.
Mr Treloar said Mr Van Schajik, 75, was not an employee or a director of the farm.
"We're not here to sack people, we're here to keep people happy and keep them employed," he said.
AWU secretary Bill Shorten said the union would investigate the laying of charges.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,259352,00.jpg
Taken from the Herald-Sun 3/6/03 p11.
Actual story can also be found at http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6534269%255E2862,00.html
Minister's fiancee lays charge of assault
By BARBARA ADAM and SUSIE O'BRIEN
03jun03
THE fiancee of Victoria's Police Minister was assaulted as she tried to offer union help to farmhands, the Industrial Relations Commission was told yesterday.
Hermannua Van Schajik, a financial backer of Australian Mushroom Farms, hit union organiser Tonya Stevens so hard she fell over, the commission heard.
Ms Stevens, who is engaged to Police Minister Andre Haermeyer, filed an assault complaint on Friday soon after the alleged assault.
"I wasn't really hurt, but it came as a bit of a shock because I was just doing my job," she said outside the commission yesterday.
Ms Stevens, an Australian Workers Union organiser, alleged she was hit on the arm and ordered off the property after being accused of trespassing.
AWU advocate Zoe Angus told an Australian Industrial Relations Commission hearing in Melbourne yesterday that Ms Stevens filed a complaint at Seymour police station.
Ms Angus said the alleged attack came after a fiery union meeting held at the farm at Avenel, about 110km north of Melbourne, at which hecklers yelled comments such as "the commies are coming" and "you'd better look out -- the KGB will get you".
The AWU told the commission Australian Mushroom Farms had breached several sections of the Workplace Relations Act in its attempt to sign about 30 employees to individual contracts.
Mr Van Schajik and three other directors of Australian Mushroom Farms did not appear at the commission hearing.
Instead, the directors sent a letter to Commissioner John Tolley stating the Australian Workplace Agreements offered to the farmhands were optional.
"No one has been or will be threatened with termination if they don't sign the AWA," the letter said.
After a brief hearing, Mr Tolley issued a summons for the four directors to appear at a compulsory commission hearing at a date to be set.
Farm director Brian Treloar later said he had not witnessed any assault and could not comment on the alleged incident.
Mr Treloar said Mr Van Schajik, 75, was not an employee or a director of the farm.
"We're not here to sack people, we're here to keep people happy and keep them employed," he said.
AWU secretary Bill Shorten said the union would investigate the laying of charges.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,259352,00.jpg