Liverpool Council CEO Carl Wulff has condemned as “offensive and opportunistic, despicable and a disgrace’’ a flyer distributed by the United Services Union (USU) that includes a photo of the mayor with a disabled person and a recovering brain injury patient.
“Using images of the recipients from our chosen charities for this year’s Mayoral Ball – a night whose sole purpose is to raise funds and celebrate the important work of our local charities is disgraceful,” Mr Wulff said.
The union flyer is part of a call for protests at this year’s mayoral ball and is the latest skirmish as the council prepares to partially privatise management of its workforce. The union is bitterly opposed.
Liverpool Council’s Mayoral Ball will be held this weekend and the $100,000 in proceeds will be divided equally between Share Care (who work with children and young adults with a disability) and the Liverpool Hospital’s Trauma Unit.
It has been suggested Share Care has asked the union to remove the flyer.
Mr Wulff said the union’s call for people to protest at the black tie dinner was disrespectful to the disabled recipients, some of whom would be attending the function.
The union flyer has used a promotional photo of the event and includes a series of inaccurate allegations.
Mr Wulff said the flyer’s claim that council had evicted the homeless from Bigge Park was also insulting to his council staff.
“I am proud of our staff and the fine work they did helping to co-ordinate efforts to house the homeless,” he said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The council team worked alongside Centrelink, St Vincent De Paul, Wesley Mission and the Liverpool Hospital’s Mental Health Unit, who have all praised the work undertaken by council,” he said.[/social_quote]
Mr Wulff, pictured at left, said that protesting at a charity event was very poor form.
‘One has to question why the USU have decided to show such a sudden interest in the issue of homelessness in Liverpool.
“If the union or the staff has an issue then my door is open,” Mr Wulff said.
“But using this event and the vulnerable people we are helping is despicable.”
