Calling Me 'Kiwi' is Racial Discriination Says NZ Woman
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 2:39 pm
Some people are overly sensitive:
Kiwi' nickname not discriminatory, Australian tribunal finds
3 December 2018
A New Zealand woman has unsuccessfully argued that she was a victim of racial discrimination after being labelled a "Kiwi" by her colleagues in Australia.
Julie Savage said she was disrespected when her boss and co-workers referred to her as "Kiwi" instead of her name.
However an Australian tribunal ruled that she had not suffered unfair treatment or discrimination at work.
A judge noted that the term was commonly used by New Zealanders themselves.
"Calling a New Zealander a 'Kiwi' is not of itself offensive. 'Kiwi' is not an insult," said Judge Leonie Farrell.
She added that the word was often viewed as a "term of endearment". It is derived from the name of a flightless bird native to the country.
Ms Savage said the issue had prompted her to resign from her job as a supervisor at Vili's Cakes, a bakery in Adelaide, in 2016.
She later lodged a complaint with the South Australian Employment Tribunal.
But it found no evidence that discrimination laws had been violated.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-46421881
"[She] did not allege that she suffered unfavourable treatment in respect of the terms of her employment, lack of progression or segregation," Ms Farrell said.
"At its core [her complaint] is not about racism."
Kiwi' nickname not discriminatory, Australian tribunal finds
3 December 2018
A New Zealand woman has unsuccessfully argued that she was a victim of racial discrimination after being labelled a "Kiwi" by her colleagues in Australia.
Julie Savage said she was disrespected when her boss and co-workers referred to her as "Kiwi" instead of her name.
However an Australian tribunal ruled that she had not suffered unfair treatment or discrimination at work.
A judge noted that the term was commonly used by New Zealanders themselves.
"Calling a New Zealander a 'Kiwi' is not of itself offensive. 'Kiwi' is not an insult," said Judge Leonie Farrell.
She added that the word was often viewed as a "term of endearment". It is derived from the name of a flightless bird native to the country.
Ms Savage said the issue had prompted her to resign from her job as a supervisor at Vili's Cakes, a bakery in Adelaide, in 2016.
She later lodged a complaint with the South Australian Employment Tribunal.
But it found no evidence that discrimination laws had been violated.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-46421881
"[She] did not allege that she suffered unfavourable treatment in respect of the terms of her employment, lack of progression or segregation," Ms Farrell said.
"At its core [her complaint] is not about racism."
