The following note was posted on the doors of the Interzone office at the Bentley Technology Park:
NOTICE TO ALL SUSPENDED OR FORMER STAFF
We appreciate all of your hard work in the past and apologize for any inconvenience to you. We would like to resolve any issues directly with you to avoid any legal costs. The funds that we raise will be limited therefore the less external expenses the more funds that become available for distribution. We accept that after external expenses, you will have priority, with any distribution or pay out. We will keep you informed on our funding progress as information comes to hand. So your co-operation would be greatly appreciated.
II. We accept that we owe you wages and are currently determining the amount owed and are working diligently to raise funds in the USA that will be distributed according to the priority as set out by law.
III. It was unfortunate when Nationwide Payroll went into liquidation and took $400,000 that was intended for your wages and Super, however we are working hard to borrow funds that will help to pay as much of the debts as possible.
PLEASE NOTE. The only person allowed on or within the premises of Interzone pty ltd (Interzone Games) is Vice President of Business Operations Mike Turner and anyone he so nominates or brings with himself onto the premises.
NO ONE ELSE IS PERMITTED TO ENTER THE PREMISES. ALL ACCESS IS HEREBY REVOKEDAND ANY ENTRY WHATSOEVER WILL CONSTITUTE TRESSPASSING.SIGNED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF INTERZONE PTY LTD
_____________________
DATED: THE 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2010
(yes, all of those spelling mistakes were actually in there.)
Mike walked into the office, taped this onto the outside doors, and started making phone calls. Now, there are too many things wrong with this whole thing to list them all (including the fact that employees cannot be suspended without pay and have not been given any official word or document that they have been suspended at all), but one point is that the area which Interzone employees were occupying at that time (waiting for Mike to get there to start stealing the IP he has no authority to take, but doing so peacefully and with no intention to harass or cause any bodily harm) were in the common area of the building, not the two rooms that Interzone actually rents. They also had explicit confirmation from the building owners that they are allowed to be in that area. Not like they could have gone into the Interzone areas anyway because Mike Turner illegally changed the locks the night before.
However, Mike ends up calling the police and just as I get there with two current employees (I don’t want to name any names here for privacy reasons, as I have not asked permission) they arrive. The two police women instantly go into the office (we aren’t in at this point, but waiting outside with another former employee), go into the common area where the group of current employees is waiting, and tell them to get out.
They refuse to check Mike Turner’s passport (we strongly suspect that he is not here on a proper business visa and is therefore unable to legally do “business” like this in Perth), refuse to verify the actual validity of the document, refuse to check him for any ID or proof of employment at all. In fact, Mike Turner could have called himself Marty Brickey and the cops would probably believe him. On the other hand, those who are actually allowed to be there and who aren’t even on Interzone property are kicked out and told that they are not allowed into any part of the building.
Had they just checked their information, checked Mike’s papers, etc., they would see that his paperwork doesn’t hold up at all.
Lesson learned: If I want to rob someone, get there, call the police before they do, say a few big words, and get the cops to kick out the people who are rightfully there. Oh and eat some cheesecake too – Mike Turner likes that. I think it gives him super powers.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there,
we, in Melbourne have been treated the same by ettamogah entertainment.
this is the information taken from our facebook group.
“In October 2009, Ettamogah Entertainment Pty Ltd, in Brighton, just outside Melbourne, Australia, stood down approximately 100 of its 120 staff members.
Animators, designers, storyboard artists, and many more were suddenly left without a job, with no explanation, no pay and now, several months later are still fighting, with the assistance of the Fair Workplace Ombudsman and the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance, for some form of resolution.
The unfortunate truth is that the company continues to trade by (allegedly) bullying employees into submission, (allegedly) discriminating against those associated with the MEAA, whilst continuing to owe a LOT of money and wages, both in Australia and to overseas investors and studios.
We’re not asking for anything other than what we are legally entitled to. Our outstanding pay, our superannuation, and some form of compensation for being left out in the cold.
The original artist responsible for the Ettamogah brand, Ken Maynard, would roll over in his grave if he knew what a shameful travesty has become of his legacy.
Boycot Ettamogah Entertainment Pty Ltd to show the spirit of the Aussie Battler, and giving the little guy a fair go still exists within us, or continue to let the reputation of the Australian Animation community be a laughing stock across the world.”
it would be nice if we can join hand and tell australia public of what’s happening behind animation and game industry.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=299441511962&ref=ts
Ex Ettamogah employee, that’s horrible. I joined your Facebook group and will blog about it in the near future. When is the government going to start protecting the little people already?
Thanks for the support Lazer
we will support you guys and spread the words here in melbourne of what’s been happening in Perth.
we wish all the best for you guys
I just read about this on Slashdot. I am so sorry to hear about all the troubles you and the staff of Interzone have. Has any new developments occurred since this your posting?
Thanks, Ralph, we all appreciate the kind thoughts we’ve gotten from others around the country.
Since this posting some new things happened, including Marty admitting in an interview that he actually has the money to pay us but is choosing to use it elsewhere. His quote in the WA Business News article was “If we had paid them (employees) there was no more money for operations – Marty Brickey”
I wrote my thoughts on this in another post here.
{ 2 trackbacks }