Top executive sues Sydney Olympic body

A senior Sydney Olympic Games (SOCOG) marketing executive is suing the organisation over an allegedly unfair contract after she failed to receive an Aus$35,000 (&£13,462) pay rise because she was sacked for accepting a job with one of the Olympic sponsors.

Karen Ruth Webb, who had worked in the SOCOG sponsorship division since 1996, is reported to be claiming compensation for distress and humiliation over her sacking on June 5.

Webb has filed a summons at the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission this week, claiming she was offered a pay rise of Aus$35,000 (&£13,462) – bringing her salary to Aus$125,000 (&£48,077) – and that she did not receive it.

The summons alleges that Webb was told by SOCOG deputy chief executive Michael Eyers: “There has been a reorganisation and as such your position has been made redundant and your employment terminated.”

It is not known which sponsor offered her a job. SOCOG general manager of marketing and sponsorship Mike Bushell was unavailable for comment as Marketing Week went to press.

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