The ACT branch of the Australian Education Union has been forced to improve its bullying and harassment complaints process after WorkSafe ACT issued an improvement notice.
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On July 26, Worksafe ACT issued the notice in relation to how the union was managing allegations of bullying and harassment.
The improvement notice was issued in the same year "charges" have been brought against the ACT branch secretary Glenn Fowler under the rules of the union. The substance of those charges remains unknown. The Canberra Times is not suggesting the improvement notice related to the charges against Mr Fowler, only that both events occurred this year.
In March, Mr Fowler was stood down from the secretary's position and placed on paid leave after the branch executive received a number of complaints against him.
It was only last week that members were told via email there had been an independent investigation into the complaints and charges had been laid under the rules of the union.
In a statement to union members, Mr Fowler said he denied the charges and would "vigorously" defend himself.
Mr Fowler also claimed there were "multiple startling deficiencies" in the process of the investigation of the charges which had taken seven months so far.
On Friday he said he would not comment further. When asked if the charges related to bullying and harassment, Mr Fowler said: "I'm not going to answer that."
In response to the improvement notice the union branch developed a workplace conduct policy which is set to be formally approved at a branch council meeting on Saturday.
ACT branch president Angela Burroughs wrote in the president's report to the meeting that Worksafe ACT confirmed the branch had complied with the improvement notice in August.
"To meet the requirements of the Improvement Notice, the Branch agreed to implement the Workplace Conduct policy as an interim measure until formal council approval could be obtained," Ms Burroughs wrote.
"I am pleased to report that on 24 August WorkSafe ACT confirmed that the branch had complied with the improvement notice."
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Meanwhile, a profit and loss statement published on the branch website along with the council meeting papers showed the union's legal expenses had blown out this year.
Since January the AEU ACT branch spent almost $101,000 on legal expenses but only $33,300 was budgeted.
Acting branch president Vince McDevitt declined to respond to questions regarding the reason for the Worksafe ACT improvement notice and the increase in legal expenses.
Mr McDevitt also said he had no further comment to make at this time.
The new workplace conduct policy sets out a process for complaints regarding sexual and harassment to be fairly and impartially investigated in a timely manner.
It states where a duty is given to the branch secretary, it may also be carried out by the branch president or a vice-president if the secretary is the subject of a complaint or has an irreconcilable conflict of interest.
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