DynaGroup Gympie: Ex-worker alleges gender discrimination at company
A former worker claims he lost his job at a multimillion-dollar Exclusive Brethren business after challenging strict rules on women, as the company defended its past and present practices.
An Exclusive Brethren-run family dynasty stretching from Gympie to Maryborough has been operating for years, centred around a thriving timber mill about 10 minutes southwest of Gympie at Pie Creek, and supplying customers across Queensland.
The Baker family, led by Ken Baker until it was taken over by his grandsons Nathan and Karl, is behind at least two major industrial businesses in the Gympie region — DynaGroup, and Ironbark Timber.
“Tom”, an ex-employee of the Baker family who has asked to be kept anonymous and who is not, and has never been a member of the church, claims to have witnessed sexism when he worked for DynaGroup, as well as questionable work practices and severance packages in exchange for silence.
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, also known as the Exclusive Brethren, is an evangelical Christian sect with its own Bible translation, now run by Bruce Hales, a Sydney-based businessman.
PBCC members refrain from “worldly things” like radio, television and social media, except where necessitated by business.
The limited role of women within the church has been widely criticised, and the sect itself has been branded a “cult” by some ex-members, and most recently by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Property records show a Kenneth Baker associated with some of the Gympie region’s big businesses from around the genesis of the Gympie Brethren in 2003.
According to Tom, Nathan and Karl Baker took over the timber mill from their grandfather in mid to late 2018.
The brothers, along with Ken’s son Michael Baker, now operate both DynaGroup and Ironbark Timber.
Tom worked with the family for almost two years, which he said ended — in the form of a “restructuring” — when he told his management he wanted to employ women at the workplace.
“The two, three ladies in the office, they couldn’t show their arms, they couldn’t wear trousers,” he said.
“I told (management) I wanted to interview women (for roles), and they just said, “No, it’s not happening”.
“One to two months later there was a ‘restructuring’, let’s call it, and I was out the door.”
Karl Baker, one of DynaGroup’s managing directors, said in response to claims of discouraging female employment he did not “know anything of that nature” within their workplaces.
“We maintain open employment opportunities,” Mr Baker said.
“DynaGroup is an equal opportunity employer that hires our employees based on merit, skills and qualifications.
“Currently DynaGroup employs 4 women – 3 full time and 1 casual – two of whom have been with us for over a decade.
“The only dress code we have at DynaGroup is professional attire – just like any workplace – that meets any safety requirements, i.e. steel-capped boots.
“We also provide our employees with a uniform.”
Tom said he ‘started to get red flags early’ during his time with the company.
“When I started, I didn’t know what I was in for.
“The more time I spent there, the more strange things they did.”
Tom also alleged there was a third, older “estranged” brother to Nathan and Karl now living in Brisbane, whose family had cut all ties with him since he left the church.
This alleged practice aligns with the church’s “doctrine of separation”, which dictates family separation should a member leave the Brethren.
Lloyd Grimshaw, a spokesperson for the PBCC, said: “Women play a central role in our church, our community and families, so to suggest that their role is in anyway (sic) limited is not only wrong but offensive.
“Everyone in our church dresses relatively modestly, but there is no rule against exposing arms.
“You would have to check with the business but perhaps this is an OHS rule rather than a church one.
“We don’t dictate that a family should stop talking to someone if they leave the church.
“We wish them well and it is for the families to decide about their ongoing relationship.”
Mr Grimshaw’s last two claims have been refuted by many ex-members of the church, including one this publication interviewed, who claimed church members continued to visit his home and slip accusatory letters into his mailbox long after he had left the Brethren, and “publicly prayed” for his demise, as well as his family cutting ties.
