Workplace flare-up: push comes to shove

By Lia Bichel
AN ARGUMENT between a Dandenong South factory manager and a union official spilled over into a pushing match last week.
A Bending Company managing director Peter Angelico said AWU Victoria vice-president Ben Davies laid his hands on him in a heated argument over a health and safety matter at 11am on Friday.
Mr Davies has countered, claiming Mr Angelico assaulted him.
Mr Angelico said the incident occurred after Mr Davies and another union member asked to speak to staff in what he believed was an attempt to gain more members.
He said when his staff unanimously declined, the union members said they needed to carry out an OH and S matter relating to a particular machine.
Mr Angelico said he refused them entry because the company did not own the particular machine and they did not show the necessary credentials.
“We are not supposed to refuse them entry if they are here for an OH and S matter, but we didn’t know who he was – he was supposed to show us his ID,” Mr Angelico said. “Then it all got pretty heated. I stood in front of him and he pushed me. After a few minutes he finally left.”
Mr Angelico, a Liberal campaign manager for his employee Dale McClelland, claimed his family was the victim of personal threats in 2001 and his employee Mr McClelland was involved in an argument at the polling booths last month.
But Mr Davies said he was only at the company on Friday for an OH and S matter and not for personal or political vengeance. “I was there in response to an anonymous call about concerns over the safety of machinery,” he said. “I have absolutely no idea about his political involvement, and I wouldn’t care.”
Mr Davies said he had the appropriate paperwork with him when he arrived at A Bending Company, but did not have the chance to show Mr Angelico his credentials.
“We are supposed to show our permit at the first possible opportunity. But I didn’t have a chance to show him my permit because he attacked me before I could,” he said. “He physically assaulted me. He grabbed me by the windcheater so I grabbed him back. There were no punches involved. We both laid complaints with WorkSafe, and WorkSafe notified (Mr Angelico) of his obligations Friday afternoon.”
Mr Angelico said WorkSafe investigated the alleged breach of ‘right of entry’ provisions and they did not feel it was necessary to issue any penalty.
He said the incident caused major delays at the company and hoped similar incidents did not occur in the future.
“I just don’t understand why (the AWU) are bothering with a small company like us – we have 18 employees,” he said. “That incident occurred in the morning then I was tied up with WorkSafe into the afternoon. It was a major disruption to our day.”