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The representative from the First Nations Workers Alliance, a Mununjali woman, regularly encountered racial prejudice from both customers and fellow employees.
She recounted that when she and other Indigenous staff voiced their concerns about racial discrimination from colleagues, the only response was mediation, with no disciplinary measures enforced.
Having worked as a flight attendant for 13 years, Ms. Weigel ultimately decided to leave her position due to the persistent racism she faced. Credit: SCM Jeans/Getty Images
Released by the ACTU’s Centre for Health and Safety, the report was unveiled at the Healthy Work Conference, hosted by the peak body in Adelaide on Friday.
“In discussing statistics, we often overlook the human stories they represent… discrimination and harassment are rampant,” noted the Kaurna woman.
“Racism is incredibly complex, there are systemic reasons for these results but when we unpack what racism actually is we’re talking about anything from a small microaggression right through to the systems and policies we have in place, right through to the reporting,” she said.
We haven’t had a conversation about racism at work in this country and it is well overdue.
“By strengthening our legislation and regulations that will actually empower the unions to be able to support workers and hold employers accountable because they have obligation by the act, or by the regulations to actually enforce positive change and safer work practices.”
