included a statement of my experience. When I went to Mr Smith’s office to hand
in my application, I met two other co-workers who told me that they were also
handing in applications for the leading hand positions. They were Bill Burton and
Jim Snow.
8. Bill Burton started working in the factory in April 1996. He worked as a machinist.
On many occasions, he has told me that our factory was the first time he had
worked in the glass industry.
9. Jim Snow started working in our factory in October 1997. Shortly after he started
working in our factory, he told me that this was the first time he had worked in the
glass industry, except for two months work with another glass company just
before he joined our factory.
10. On 16 February 2000 John Smith came to the area in which Jim Snow, Bill
Burton and I worked. He told us that Jim Snow and Bill Burton had been
appointed leading hands and that my application had not been successful. I had
not been interviewed. I believe that the other two applicants also had not been
interviewed.
11. I immediately complained to Mr Smith, in the presence of my other co-workers,
that this was unfair and that I had not been appointed because I was a woman.
Mr Smith said, "If you can’t stick it, leave the factory". I immediately left the
factory and have not returned to work since then.
12. For several days after I left the factory, I was distressed, shaking and upset. I
could not sleep. I could not believe that the company would treat me in this way
after I had worked with them for ten years and acted as a leading hand twice.
Since then, I have been visiting my treating GP, Dr Green, on a regular basis. I
am on medication for depression and anxiety. I am unable to sleep, feel
depressed, feel frightened of meeting other people, and have lost confidence. I
have applied for other jobs, but I am always unsuccessful because, when I get to
interview, I break down and cry. I feel humiliated by the way John Smith and the
company handled this matter.
13. My gross salary as at 16 February 2000 was $30,000 per year. The gross salary
of a leading hand as at that date was $40,000 per year.
14. I have never seen any equal opportunity policy prepared by the Respondent
Company. The company has never given me any anti-discrimination training. I
am not aware that any other employee has been given such training. I have
never been told that there was a mechanism for me to make complaints if I felt I
had been discriminated against.
Dated this 4
th
day of July 2000
…………………………………
(Signed by Natalie Jones)