Union to take up cases of harassment

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 9

Union to take up cases of harassment

PA Auckland The Hotel Workers’ Union has pledged to take up the cases of schoolgirls allegedly sexually harassed at a Brierley Investments shareholders’ meeting. The union has threatened legal action to stop any repeat of teenagers being enlisted to serve alcohol at the Chase Stadium in Auckland. Last week several girls, aged 13 and 14, from Selwyn College, claimed they had to put up with disgusting sexual com-

ments from drunken shareholders at the Brierley meeting. About 200 pupils from the school were enlisted by stadium managers to serve alcohol and provide other services to several thousand people. The pupils got a free sweatshirt and a day off school for their labours. The Northern Hotel Workers’ Union organiser, Ms Glenda Fryer, said the union would help teenagers who were harassed to lay assault charges, or have complaints investigated by the Human

Rights Commission. Ms Fryer said she had also spoken to Selwyn College’s principal, Mr John Phillips, and Chase Stadium’s manager, Mr Mike Murray, expressing concern that the students were not paid. Future use of teenage non-union labour would result in the union taking legal action under the Labour Relations Act. However, Mr Murray hit out at those who criticised the use of students. The young people did a superb job,