Security whistleblower sacked for exposing fraud

Security whistleblower sacked for exposing fraud on taxpayers

Unite Union is outraged the security guard who spoke out against her employer pressuring staff to “cheat” so they would complete NZQA security training modules has been sacked by her employer.

Earlier this year, Allied Security employee and Unite Union member Lydia Maoate spoke publicly against the company providing copies of answers for workers to use to complete modules for their level 2 National Security qualification. Once the NZQA credited qualifcation is completed the company claims hefty taxpayer subsidies (hundreds of dollars per employee) for providing the training. The money comes from the Tertiary Education Commission through the ETITO (Electotechnology Industry Training Organisation) which overseas security industry training.

On Tuesday the company sacked Lydia for speaking to the media and for giving copies of the assessor guides (with answers) to her union representative.

The company pressured staff to complete the modules because it said its client wanted trained staff on site and it was compulsory for staff to have the level 2 qualification. The company then provided copies of the answers for staff to fill in and complete the course. The company Training Manager emailed site supervisors with the answers and copied it to the company General Manager Damien Black. The email is attached.

When Lydia complained to her supervisor and training manager about what she described as “cheating” she was told she would lose her job if she did not complete the work. When she spoke publicly the General Manager told her “don’t come to work tomorrow”. The union intervened and Lydia remained employed but once the publicity died down the company took disciplinary action against her which ended in her being sacked on Tuesday.

“It’s outrageous” says Unite Security Organiser Barry Sutherland. “Having been exposed for its appalling practices rorting the taxpayer the company has made a vengeful attack on an employee who was brave enough to expose the company. This is crude, cowardly behaviour by a bully-boy employer against an employee with the courage to stand up against a fraud being perpetrated against New Zealand taxpayers.

“Lydia has saved the taxpayer potentially tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer subsidies.

“The union is filing a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal on behalf of Lydia. We are also taking this up with ETITO, NZQA and the Minister of Tertiary Education.

“This issue highlights serious problems with a deregulated, de-professionalised industry where pay rates are clustered around the minimum wage and workers must complete long gruelling hours to get enough income to survive.

“It’s another failure of the unregulated free market,” said Barry Sutherland

Unite is campaigning to make industry-wide changes where staff are trained properly and paid decent rates of pay with a proper career path.

ENDS

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