Ellis Park workers cry foul
Push for action after claiming that staff are ill-treated and managers involved in corruption, theft and bullying
SOME Ellis Park workers are pushing for action to be taken against a senior manager they allege has been taking them to do maintenance work at his house and using bully tactics.
Staff members, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, claim that Ellis Park’s Stadium manager, head of security and store manager ill-treated them and alleged that they were involved in corruption.
According to the staff, things changed when they got a new site manager.
“When we had a white site manager things were fine. The managers at Ellis Park adhered to the rules but once the site manager changed they started throwing their weight around,” said one worker.
They claim staff members are repeatedly reminded that they are contractors and are hindered from doing their jobs.
“We are forced to keep quiet when we see some of the maintenance staff doing illegal things because we are afraid we will get removed from the site. All staff that are hired by Ellis Park only get verbal warnings whereas contractors get fired,” said another staff member.
The head of security allegedly cut the number of guards without providing a reason, and now guards end up working three posts each, leaving them no time to eat.
It is also alleged that the store manager helps himself to the alcohol in the store at the venue and that things such as tissue and paint are ordered for the stadium manager’s house.
Edgar Rathbone, the managing director of Ellis Park Stadium (known as Emirates Airline Park for sponsorship reasons), said: “There have been they come in and out of the stadium and nothing has been reported to me, so I can’t say there’s any truth to that.
“With regards to the stadium manager, I am aware that he has had workers do some work at his house but to my understanding he would pay them for the work done (and it is) not at the expense of the stadium.”
Staff members have allegedly reported the matter to their supervisor but say no assistance has been offered to them. “If all the workers at Ellis Park can come forward and talk, the whole management staff would lose their jobs or be arrested,” said the worker.
Rathbone said: “I will have a meeting with all the staff member. If any of them have information regarding these allegations, they must come to me. If there are people that refused to be searched, I need to talk to my security because that is the only way they can leave with things.”