Manufacturing Union official stood down amid bullying allegations

A NSW Australian Manufacturing Union secretary has quietly stood down, since mid last year, amid bullying claims made against him.

AMWU NSW/ACT secretary Cory Wright.

A NSW Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union secretary has stood down from all duties amid a Federal Court case and union probe examining bullying allegations levelled against him.

It’s understood Cory Wright stepped down in the middle of last year, and a union official confirmed he remained on leave while recommendations from a union-commissioned investigation – conducted by barrister and former Julia Gillard staffer Jack Whelan – into the complaints are implemented and the matter is resolved.

The news came after a former AMWU organiser Helen Sourlas claimed she was unfairly sacked after calling out Mr Wright for “threatening physical violence” against another staff member at a meeting last year.

Ms Sourlas detailed the allegations in a legal document, filed with the Federal Court in November and released to The Australian last month.

In her statement of claim, Ms Sourlas said she condemned Mr Wright in a staff meeting on February 16 last year for his behaviour.

“Ms Sourlas criticised the then NSW state secretary of AMWU (Mr Corey [sic] Wright) in a staff meeting for threatening physical violence against another employee of the AMWU,” she said.

“On 27 April 2023, Ms Sourlas made numerous written complaints, under the AMWU whistleblower policy against Mr Cory Wright, and provided these to the assistant national secretary of the AMWU Glen Thompson on behalf of herself and other employees of the AMWU.”

NSW Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Pool/Bianca DeMarchi

An AMWU national office spokesperson said they could not discuss the outcome of the union investigation into Mr Wright while the matter also remained before the court.

“The AMWU confirms that the union has in place strict policies which govern workplace behaviour,” the statement said.

“The union is proactive in response to complaints and expects and enforces the highest standard of workplace behaviour. The AMWU makes no further comment at this time.”

A spokeswoman for NSW Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis said it would not be appropriate to comment while the matter was before the court, except to say: “Bullying and harassment in any form is inappropriate and harmful to all involved.”

It has been reported that the AMWU last year was bargaining for one of the first multi-employer agreements under the Albanese government’s new laws, but infighting within the union stalled talks after organiser Dave Kelly was dismissed – he says unfairly.

AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy. Picture: Supplied

Ms Sourlas, who said she was interviewed as part of the investigation into Mr Wright, stated on July 20 last year she was provided with a letter confirming in “broad terms” the outcomes of the probe. Through her solicitor, a de-identified copy of this letter was supplied to the AMWU on July 21.

Ms Sourlas said she made a witness statement to a Fair Work Commission unfair dismissal hearing in May last year “on behalf of her colleague” Mr Kelly.

By July 28, Ms Sourlas said her employment was terminated “with immediate effect purportedly for serious misconduct” and after the investigation letter turned up in correspondence relating to Mr Kelly’s matter.

Ms Sourlas is seeking medical and treatment expenses and general damage in the form of “hurt, distress and humiliation suffered … because of the contraventions” and said she is owed compensation and interest.

She first filed a case against the AMWU in March last year, and then separate proceedings against national secretary Steve Murphy in November.

Federal Court judge Elizabeth Raper ordered the matters be consolidated on December 13, and referred the case to mediation in March.