http://news.com.au/common/story_pag...255E421,00.html

This T-shirt - or no job
By Mandi Zonneveldt and Peter Mickelburough
March 30, 2004

JEANS giant Westco has been accused of exposing young female employees to
sexual harassment by forcing them to wear tight T-shirts bearing a
provocative slogan.

Sarah Freeman was unhappy about having to wear the Westco T-shirt.

The retail chain withdrew the shirts yesterday after assistant store manager
Sarah Freeman, 20, complained.

Ms Freeman was sent home from work at Westco's Bourke St store last week
because she refused to wear the T-shirt, which was emblazoned with the
slogan, "Stop pretending you don't want me".

"When I first put it on and walked out of the change rooms one of the
comments was: 'Two Cougars, please', just like the ad on TV," Ms Freeman
said.

But she said a directive from the company left her with no choice but to
wear the shirt.

The company wrote: "(The T-shirts) must be worn each and every shift until
further notice. There will be no exceptions.

"No T-shirt equals no work -- any team member that does not dress correctly
for work will be sent home."

With the support of her co-workers, Ms Freeman complained to her store
manager and an area manager, but her complaints went unheeded.

She decided to take a stand after being sexually harassed by a male
customer.

"He just looked at my breasts and said 'hello' . . . I took the top off
after that," she said.

On Saturday, she was given the option of wearing the shirt at work or giving
up her shift and going home.

She chose to go home.

Westco spokesman Andrew Hart defended the slogan, saying it was "a quirky
statement reflecting the fact that Westco Jeans products are pleasing, in
demand and difficult to resist".

He said it was not intended to cause offence.

"In view of the public comment, Westco has taken the decision to recall the
T-shirts immediately to avoid our reputation being damaged," he said.

Westco's about-face came after Women's Affairs Minister Mary Delahunty
demanded the company immediately drop the policy and apologise to the
woman.

"I am outraged that your company has exposed your employees to harassment by
directing them to dress themselves in provocative and suggestive T-shirts,"
Ms Delahunty said in a letter to Westco boss Sandeep Kalra.

Ms Delahunty said it was unacceptable for the bodies of young women employed
by Westco to be used as advertising billboards.

"This is clearly putting these women at risk and in light of the national
debate raging around the culture of sexual violence in football, your
company's insensitivity to the respect young women deserve is unfathomable
and has the potential to breach Commonwealth and state laws."

Herald Sun

--
Fris "A picture is worth six words" beeŽ

Certaholics
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/certaholics

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>On Saturday, she was given the option of wearing the shirt at work or giving
>up her shift and going home.
>
>She chose to go home.
.... and complete her mcse on win2k3.

>"He just looked at my breasts and said 'hello' . . . I took the top off
>after that," she said.

At least he didn't say 'are you a block?'

Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

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FrisbeeŽ <billLASTINIT@dasi-software.com> wrote in
news:u6Emn8nFEHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl:

> http://news.com.au/common/story_pag...255E421,00.html
>
> This T-shirt - or no job
> By Mandi Zonneveldt and Peter Mickelburough
> March 30, 2004
>

<snip>

It is real

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Tom Kelsall wrote:
> FrisbeeŽ <billLASTINIT@dasi-software.com> wrote in
> news:u6Emn8nFEHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl:
>
>
> <snip>
>
> It is real

Yes, they sure looked real to me, too. But then in the words of Al and Bud
Bundy... WHO CARES?

--
Fris "Silly Cone" beeŽ

Certaholics
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FrisbeeŽ opined, On 3/30/04 9:48 AM:
> She decided to take a stand after being sexually harassed by a male
> customer.
>
> "He just looked at my breasts and said 'hello' . . .

_This_ is sexual harassment???

I agree about the t-shirts, but since when does looking at a babe's
boobs, and then having the audacity to say 'hello', constitute harassment?

JaR
Un-PC Thug

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one question that has not been answered is what does she dress like
normally... does she wear tight tshirts anyway? That is the style these
days... I moved up to a ladies large because the small and medium I used to
wear dig in under the arms and around the ribs... not comfortable at all
IMHO... I prefer clothes that drape the body gently... doesnt hide but
doesnt cut off circulation either...

--
Sue MCNGP #69

"JaR" <plentenospam@nospamsofthome.net> wrote in message
news:eahZYMrFEHA.1600@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> FrisbeeŽ opined, On 3/30/04 9:48 AM:
>
> _This_ is sexual harassment???
>
> I agree about the t-shirts, but since when does looking at a babe's
> boobs, and then having the audacity to say 'hello', constitute harassment?
>
> JaR
> Un-PC Thug

Report this post to a moderator

People like Sarah Freeman always, ALWAYS have to ruin the party, don't
they!

FrisbeeŽ <billLASTINIT@dasi-software.com> wrote in
news:u6Emn8nFEHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl:

> http://news.com.au/common/story_pag...255E421,00.html
>
> This T-shirt - or no job
> By Mandi Zonneveldt and Peter Mickelburough
> March 30, 2004
>
> JEANS giant Westco has been accused of exposing young female employees
> to sexual harassment by forcing them to wear tight T-shirts bearing a
> provocative slogan.
>
> Sarah Freeman was unhappy about having to wear the Westco T-shirt.
>
> The retail chain withdrew the shirts yesterday after assistant store
> manager Sarah Freeman, 20, complained.
>
> Ms Freeman was sent home from work at Westco's Bourke St store last
> week because she refused to wear the T-shirt, which was emblazoned
> with the slogan, "Stop pretending you don't want me".
>
> "When I first put it on and walked out of the change rooms one of the
> comments was: 'Two Cougars, please', just like the ad on TV," Ms
> Freeman said.
>
> But she said a directive from the company left her with no choice but
> to wear the shirt.
>
> The company wrote: "(The T-shirts) must be worn each and every shift
> until further notice. There will be no exceptions.
>
> "No T-shirt equals no work -- any team member that does not dress
> correctly for work will be sent home."
>
> With the support of her co-workers, Ms Freeman complained to her store
> manager and an area manager, but her complaints went unheeded.
>
> She decided to take a stand after being sexually harassed by a male
> customer.
>
> "He just looked at my breasts and said 'hello' . . . I took the top
> off after that," she said.
>
> On Saturday, she was given the option of wearing the shirt at work or
> giving up her shift and going home.
>
> She chose to go home.
>
> Westco spokesman Andrew Hart defended the slogan, saying it was "a
> quirky statement reflecting the fact that Westco Jeans products are
> pleasing, in demand and difficult to resist".
>
> He said it was not intended to cause offence.
>
> "In view of the public comment, Westco has taken the decision to
> recall the T-shirts immediately to avoid our reputation being
> damaged," he said.
>
> Westco's about-face came after Women's Affairs Minister Mary Delahunty
> demanded the company immediately drop the policy and apologise to the
> woman.
>
> "I am outraged that your company has exposed your employees to
> harassment by directing them to dress themselves in provocative and
> suggestive T-shirts," Ms Delahunty said in a letter to Westco boss
> Sandeep Kalra.
>
> Ms Delahunty said it was unacceptable for the bodies of young women
> employed by Westco to be used as advertising billboards.
>
> "This is clearly putting these women at risk and in light of the
> national debate raging around the culture of sexual violence in
> football, your company's insensitivity to the respect young women
> deserve is unfathomable and has the potential to breach Commonwealth
> and state laws."
>
> Herald Sun
>



--
Rowdy Yates
-------------------------------
Death to the Gypsy Kings!
-------------------------------
I am Against-TCPA
http://www.againsttcpa.com

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