Scientology's new spin on a vow of poverty

MG1962 · 22nd February 2012, 06:32 AM

I am not sure of the Church's status in Australia, but this could have some interesting twists

http://www.news.com.au/business/chur...-1226278848377

Complexity · 22nd February 2012, 06:42 AM

Vile, nasty creatures.

AvalonXQ · 22nd February 2012, 06:46 AM

The whole thing is confusing. You don't have to pay volunteers anything. But if some of your workers are legitimately employees rather than volunteers, you should have to pay them the same as anyone else would have to.

ddt · 22nd February 2012, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by MG1962

I am not sure of the Church's status in Australia, but this could have some interesting twists

http://www.news.com.au/business/chur...-1226278848377

The Statement of Findings is available from the website of the Fair Work Ombudsman. On the status of the Co$:

Quote:

48. The Fair Work Ombudsman is satisfied the bookshop activities, in and of themselves, constitute a significant or substantial part of the overall activities of the Church of Scientology and that the Church of Scientology is therefore a trading corporation.

Some quotes on the status of the workers employees or volunteers:

Quote:

61. The Church of Scientology comprises several different classes of workers, namely:
(a) Class V members being those members who sign a standard contract for either two and a half years or five years of voluntary service;
(b) Sea Organization members are those who sign a standard contract for one billion years;

and

Quote:

67. The Church of Scientology describes the Class V and Sea Organization contracts as being a pledge of religious commitment and not legally binding contracts. The Church also asserts that “there isn‟t any worker relationship...or employer relationship”. Correspondence from the Church of Scientology entities assert „the Church is a religious entity and does not have contracts relating to engagement”, but this is plainly contradicted by the documents themselves, as well as the statements made by the complainants. The language used within the Church of Scientology entities includes
references to workers being “staff”, or a “staff member”, and to those staff receiving
“pay”.

and

Quote:

68. The investigation disclosed staff are remunerated for their work, and in many cases, are issued pay slips at the time of payment. For example, The Church of Scientology Australia Inc (ABN 50 062 296 604) provided records to the Fair Work Ombudsman demonstrating that it generates records of payments made to workers and in some cases deducts PAYG tax from gross remuneration.

So the answer to the question whether these staffers are volunteers or paid workers seems clearly settled.

carlitos · 22nd February 2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

(b) Sea Organization members are those who sign a standard contract for one billion years;

LOL. Good luck enforcing those terms.

Gord_in_Toronto · 22nd February 2012, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by carlitos

LOL. Good luck enforcing those terms.

Just wait until you try and buy out of your contract!

Bad Lieutenant · 22nd February 2012, 01:53 PM

Prisoners in the USA, and now the UK (

), can work for a small fraction of the minimum wage. Perhaps these "prisoners of delusion" could be afforded the same....erm...abuse in Australia.

Twiler · 22nd February 2012, 01:57 PM

It's a violation of human rights to demand that organisations pay minimum wages??

Nosi · 22nd February 2012, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by MG1962

I am not sure of the Church's status in Australia, but this could have some interesting twists

http://www.news.com.au/business/chur...-1226278848377

Vow of poverty my

! It's a vow of exploitation.

22nd February 2012, 06:32 AM	#1
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Scientology's new spin on a vow of poverty I am not sure of the Church's status in Australia, but this could have some interesting twists http://www.news.com.au/business/chur...-1226278848377

22nd February 2012, 06:42 AM	#2
Complexity The Woo Whisperer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 9,263	Vile, nasty creatures.
	__________________ "It is a great nuisance that knowledge can only be acquired by hard work." - W. Somerset Maugham "Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible; thought is merciless to privilege, established intuititions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man." - Bertrand Russell

22nd February 2012, 06:46 AM	#3
AvalonXQ Guest Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 11,853	The whole thing is confusing. You don't have to pay volunteers anything. But if some of your workers are legitimately employees rather than volunteers, you should have to pay them the same as anyone else would have to.
AvalonXQ Guest Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 11,853

22nd February 2012, 11:16 AM	#4
ddt Mafia Penguin Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 10,323	Originally Posted by MG1962 I am not sure of the Church's status in Australia, but this could have some interesting twists http://www.news.com.au/business/chur...-1226278848377 The Statement of Findings is available from the website of the Fair Work Ombudsman. On the status of the Co$: Quote: 48. The Fair Work Ombudsman is satisfied the bookshop activities, in and of themselves, constitute a significant or substantial part of the overall activities of the Church of Scientology and that the Church of Scientology is therefore a trading corporation. Some quotes on the status of the workers employees or volunteers: Quote: 61. The Church of Scientology comprises several different classes of workers, namely: (a) Class V members being those members who sign a standard contract for either two and a half years or five years of voluntary service; (b) Sea Organization members are those who sign a standard contract for one billion years; and Quote: 67. The Church of Scientology describes the Class V and Sea Organization contracts as being a pledge of religious commitment and not legally binding contracts. The Church also asserts that “there isn‟t any worker relationship...or employer relationship”. Correspondence from the Church of Scientology entities assert „the Church is a religious entity and does not have contracts relating to engagement”, but this is plainly contradicted by the documents themselves, as well as the statements made by the complainants. The language used within the Church of Scientology entities includes references to workers being “staff”, or a “staff member”, and to those staff receiving “pay”. and Quote: 68. The investigation disclosed staff are remunerated for their work, and in many cases, are issued pay slips at the time of payment. For example, The Church of Scientology Australia Inc (ABN 50 062 296 604) provided records to the Fair Work Ombudsman demonstrating that it generates records of payments made to workers and in some cases deducts PAYG tax from gross remuneration. So the answer to the question whether these staffers are volunteers or paid workers seems clearly settled.
	__________________ Proud member of the Solipsistic Autosycophant's Group

22nd February 2012, 12:40 PM	#6
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,417	Originally Posted by carlitos LOL. Good luck enforcing those terms. Just wait until you try and buy out of your contract!
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

22nd February 2012, 11:24 AM	#5
carlitos "más divertido" Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 11,538	Quote: (b) Sea Organization members are those who sign a standard contract for one billion years; LOL. Good luck enforcing those terms.

22nd February 2012, 01:53 PM	#7
Bad Lieutenant Muse Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Cheltenham - England Posts: 612	Prisoners in the USA, and now the UK (), can work for a small fraction of the minimum wage. Perhaps these "prisoners of delusion" could be afforded the same....erm...abuse in Australia.

22nd February 2012, 01:57 PM	#8
Twiler Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,494	It's a violation of human rights to demand that organisations pay minimum wages??
Twiler Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,494

22nd February 2012, 02:18 PM	#9
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731	Originally Posted by MG1962 I am not sure of the Church's status in Australia, but this could have some interesting twists http://www.news.com.au/business/chur...-1226278848377 Vow of poverty my ! It's a vow of exploitation.
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731	__________________ __________ Hiding from the