Labour firm in strife

Allegation of threat to worker over pay claim

A FORMER employee of a FNQ labour hire company has allegedly been warned after pursuing unpaid wages.

The allegation follows a determination by the Fair Work Ombudsman that Northern Staff Pty Ltd had incorrectly paid some employees a flat rate of pay when penalty rates and shift allowances were due.

ASIC records show Northern Staff Pty Ltd currently trades as Staffing Solutions FNQ, also known as Staffing Solution.

The anonymous staffer fears to speak out in public or be identified.

Last week the staffer received a private message on Facebook from Jesse James Argent, who lists his employment as an “administrative assistant for Staffing Solution from 2012-present.”

“Think long and hard about everything because I can tell you now that everyone that asks for a reference or feedback on you I will be blatantly honest and it won’t be good,” the message reads.

An email from the FWO FNQ Regional Team stated an audit into Northern Staff was conducted in October.

“Our investigation remains ongoing at this time, but a determination that the Silforma Pty Ltd Certified Agreement 2007 did not apply to non-transferring employees has been established and agreed on with the director of Northern Staff, Mrs Franca Forde,” Sue-Ann Feltus of the FNQ regional team wrote.

Ms Feltus goes on to explain affected staff must apply directly for back pay to Mrs Forde or through Preston Law.

Former Staffing Solution employee Chris Lewis, now a UK-based chef, has posted the email on the Survey Monkey website in order to inform as many staff as possible.

“Only those who make a claim will be paid any entitlements that may be owed and this is why it is imperative that people make their claims,” the survey states.

Mrs Forde said the matter “was still before the FWO so we are unable to make detailed comment at this time.”

As for the Facebook message, Mrs Forde said it was a miscalculated move by her grandson.

“(Mr Argent) is not a representative of my business, he has tried in his own imperfect way to defend his grandparents’ honour.”

Mr Argent said the message was part of a personal discussion with a person “who used to be my friend.”

An FWO spokesman said it would investigate the matter.