Adele Carles seeks compensation and justice

Hi Sonya,
In your most recent blog post you say people need to contact Adelle Carles. What sort of information is she wanting and to what end? Is there a possibility that the lease will be overturned and in that case would some or all of the people who left (excluding those who sold) return to the Market. In that case what will happen to the new people who have come in? Or is best case scenario that management will simply be made to behave more fairly in the future? Also you promise safety.
There is a real concern amongst some who supported the Murdochs in their bid for the lease that they will be punished by whoever takes over if the Murdochs are ousted. Obviously anyone with a brain and a heart is appalled by what is now happening but they can't help being afraid that they will be blamed and punished for past ill advised actions and decisions. What do you feel about this?
Regards
S


Dear S..,
Great letter and it addresses the feelings and thoughts of many. Can I post this? Without your name of course.

I have been a bit careful to not say too much about the plan of action. I am waiting on a press release from Adele but I'm sure the Herald today will have a public statement. The Gazette, next Tuesday, should also have a statement. I also expect other media to pick up the story within the next few days.

The main point she made on Sunday is that she is going to seek compensation for people who have suffered loss since the lease signing. What she needs is a record of who has been hurt and how the changes have adversely affected them. Stall downsizing, inappropriate relocation, profit downturn, high rents and monthly leases as opposed to the promised 5 year tenure. Writing a personal story and marking it confidential is all that is required at the moment. Anyone who believes that they have been forced out of the market.

She has also identified breaches and has a very strong case for legal action against the council. It will then be up to council to take action against the Murdoch's. It should never have been left to the stallholders association to do all the leg work and finance legal action. She has all the documentation now and the great news is that it is her team who will be financing the investigation. People in high places are now onboard...

I doubt that new stallholders will be disadvantaged in any way. These people are not the enemy and like everyone else they deserve a go. Backing the Murdoch bid was totally understandable as many were completely misled. Many needed to play under the radar and we understand that. This is not, and I stress not, about stallholders turning against stallholders. People have debts and mortgages and families and it is their right and obligation to do the best they can to protect themselves. Also, the Murdoch's charmed and courted a number of people, even councilors admit that with the information they had at the time they felt that the vote was qualified. We all get wiser in retrospect. Now is now and we know what we know...more will be revealed soon.

No one is seeking a slap on the wrist for the Murdoch's. Who would accept an apology or a promise from these people? The markets need to be stabilized and they need ongoing checks and balances. People need to be put right and for the ones who remain there needs to be a level playing field.


Stallowners need to support each other. There is no such thing as new stallholders, old stallholders, Murdoch supporters or any other camp. There is a collective body of hard working people who need a fair go and equal opportunity. Stallholders have always traded off each other and that ecology needs to be bought back into balance.

The photos above are more of the missing shops at the markets.


Is this the future of Freo Markets?


For the latest post:
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Community rally for Fremantle Markets 31/1/10

A public rally has been organised for Sunday 31st of Jan 2010 for Fremantle Market supporters to come along and hear what's really going on in the market and what Fremantle Council is doing about it. It starts at 4pm in the Henderson Street mall (Near the Fremantle Markets)

No more double talk, no more rumour or innuendo - just the facts. Listen to the people tell their true stories. This is a Fremantle issue; ratepayers, customers, families and local businesses are all being effected. Fremantle Market is not a joint venture between the Murdoch bothers and the council it is the peoples market.

When big business and bureaucracy destroy families, hard working battlers, and suck the soul out of a community - it's time to step up.

The greatest atrocities throughout history have occurred only because they were executed in small increments. A few here and a few there and no one pays much attention. By the time we realise what has happened: fear has become the weapon. Apathy and silence is not the solution.

These people are your neighbours, customers, friends or family members - these people could be you one day.

Say no to greedy landlords. Say no to political agendas. Say no to artificially inflated prices. And say Yes to Aussie battlers having a go.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Talking into the wind - Fremantle markets

Our research, data, statistics, evaluations and costly market advisers tell us blah, blah, blah. We must be right. We are the boss and this is a matter of autocratic rule, it must be that way, otherwise the little people would de-throne us!

Shop owners with decades of experience couldn’t possibly know about product demand, competitive pricing, stable long term profit, natural evolution, effective trading hours, customer preferences, demographics, product display or ‘The X Factor’ which was the key to the markets previous success. Least of all, the symbiotic relationship and personality of the whole.

If more than 150 business men and women got together and all had a say it would be anarchy and mayhem; they would form an association and try to influence or even disagree with us. They might even start wanting some of our profits to go into their own pockets.

Just take a look at that last association tried to argue:

Rents. We have had 2 evaluations and the massive price hikes are Fair.

Those 30 businesses that walked out chose to do so. Others are up for sale and not selling, many have decreased their stall size to a more affordable rate and we hear the whispers that many more are winding down but that will sort itself out. There are always others lining up to replace them. If they have to increase product costs to get by then that is just business. It is not our fault if customers stop buying and then stop coming. We expect more professional people will come in and replace them. Well, so far there is a severe downturn in interest but that could be the recession and we can offer new people cheap rents for a while to give them a start.

A Working group. The Council, Stallholder Representatives and Us - all getting together to discuss different points of view or negotiating and troubleshooting.

Well we tried that and it didn’t work. You can’t work anything out if 3 perspectives are considered. It’s our market and we do things our way. What would shop-keepers know about rent? It’s about rent not retail!

Air-conditioning. For years now they have complained that it’s too hot in summer (40C) and too cold in winter (Gale force winds and rain)

Well we have said it is a matter of priority and we will get to it. We painted the roof didn’t we? They don’t understand all of the complications and costs involved. All they moan about is people feeling sick and losing on average 2 months trade each year.

Trading Hours. That’s a no brainer for us; extra days guarantee extra rent. 5 days rent is obviously greater than 3. We can double OUR profits by doubling the rent and then double that again by doubling the days of trade.

They are so negative about this. All they say is that no one shops at the markets during the week. We believe that if we open then the people will come. They all sit there reading books and falling asleep and whinging to each other. It’s this kind of negativity that is the real problem. We tried opening on Wednesday and it was a huge flop because they wouldn’t give it a fair go. We opened on Thursdays and they all whinged about paying rent out of their own pockets. It’s just the negativity and resistance to change that is the real problem.

Redevelopment. Separate the market into 2 areas. Food is the way of the future and our outdoor area can be a food Mecca in Freo.

I can’t even comment on this again it’s just too obvious. Read about the wise old King Solomon – just go ahead and cut the baby in half.

Leases. People are happy to sign our leases. These are private contracts and should not be discussed in the public arena.

Lease? Leasing agreements? What exactly are these costly documents? Secure tenure? Month to month tenancy? rules and regulations?

Run – don’t walk; straight to your legal advisor.

Evictions. We had to evict the spokespeople of the association – they were troublemakers.

They were ‘troublemakers’. They argued about the rents, held discussions with the Fremantle Council, wrote letters of complaint and even had a public rally calling for our eviction. They have spoken with the media and there have been many articles about stallholders losing their livelihoods, our intimidation, questionable outgoing expenses and our ability to communicate with them.

We bought Ann in to meet with them but when she said she didn’t want to hear about their problems or criticisms they froze her out. When she met with the spokespeople all they wanted to talk about were leases, evictions, relocations and the bloody rents again.

We only wanted to address the problems of the bus stop, cigarette butts and products made in China. The meeting was a waste of time. Like Annie says, they don’t respect us.

All of this is just another outline of issues already addressed by the stallholders association. I’m talking into the wind. The irony is that if the Murdoch’s will pay out a lot of money to professional researchers when all of this is information is freely available to them. It’s not what they want to hear and it’s not from the source they wish to hear it from.

I am offering this with the best of intention and with the hope that an open mind can comprehend it. I can even make it really, really simple.

Affordable rents.
Secure tenure.
Safe and suitable environment.
Respectful communication.
Clear definition about what a market is.
Appropriate trading hours.
Unity.
Win-Win for all party’s.

*Buy stalls back - If YOU want possession.


Sonya Green blogspot.
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Fremantle Market 'Bollocks"

Pre-Christmas is usually the time of year that the Markets do a roaring trade. This year many of the stallholders have stated that profits were down by as much as 50% compared to previous years. The heat didn’t help and the lack of effective promotion and advertising also had an effect. Rents have doubled which is an obvious cause but the enforced Thursday opening also incurred significant additional costs. Many people were furious about the wasted time and in some cases loss of perishable stock. Some took advantage of the free time by chatting to other stallholders, reading books and one or two had a little siesta behind the counter. That’s how bad it was and some even confided that the Thursday rent was paid out of pocket.

Management sent out a newsletter suggesting that it would be a good idea if stallholders had a 10% discount on Boxing Day!!! How about a 10% Rent Reduction Day?

I have already said too many times that the market is in a state of decline and everyone is well aware of the mass exodus of long term stallholders and their regular and loyal customer base. I have covered the emotional and financial devastation as well as the covert intimidation and manipulation; stall relocation and down sizing and monthly leasing rather than long term secure leases.

Many times I have been staggered by the perceptions or the spin doctoring of the market management. I have directly quoted many of the written documentations stating outright propaganda.

The Wednesday Farmers market fiasco was there for anyone to witness and yet all the press releases asserted how wonderful and successful they were. I’ll not even bother commenting on it again.

In a recent newsletter the empty stall spaces were described as resting benches for shoppers to sit and chat. Apparently ‘customer feed back’ about the little resting bays was very positive.

I have excerpted a few recent newsletters as I see the irony and marveled at how these people think. They whine about whining, accuse stallholders of bullying and see their victims as ‘troublemakers’ for expressing the truth of what has happened to them and to the market itself. It’s all just a bit perplexing but insulting and callous none the less:


“We have had complaints from customers and from stall holders who have lost customers about the attitudes of some of our merchants who think whining during trading times is going to help trade.

Please concentrate on your own business and if you want to whine and moan please do it when we have closed our doors to the public not when they are trying to enjoy a day out. It is incredible to think merchants assume our customers are remotely interested in negativity.”

“Merchants that continue to read books while trading or fall asleep in front of customers will be asked to explain why they are here. You would be better off staying home and letting us have the space for the traders waiting to get in.”

(Isn't the real question, “Why are traders reading books and falling asleep? Who are these traders “waiting to get in”? Surely those plants and benches could have made room for paying tenants.)

“Never let facts get in the way of a good story!!!
So far we have heard amazing stories from some of our merchants, customers and other news sources concerning… the licenses that were offered, taking away stalls, driving people out.

If you are interested in facts and not bollocks keep reading….

The Fremantle Markets is being constantly bagged by the same stall holders who would have us believe they care about you. If that was the case then why are they trying to destroy the very environment where you trade?

The departure of certain operators means we can finally get on with the business of making The Yard the best place to source quality, local and grower direct produce and WA foods.

It will allow us to open The Yard in March 2010 and then turn our attention to The Hall and begin work in there.
The merchants who will continue to trade in The Yard alongside all the new operators are here to work with us and are committed to our vision for the improvement of the markets.
The new merchants are productive, proactive and professional operators and we welcome them with open arms and thank them for their support through a very long year.”

“The Fremantle Market considers that bullying in the workplace is inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour…

Bullying is unlawful under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996.
The Fremantle market is committed to providing a working environment that is free from bullying…

The conduct sets out principles for behavior required in the workplace, namely that:
Anyone that works or trades within the markets should be treated with respect.
All Stall holders and Management should develop awareness about the impact of their behaviour on others.There is a continual agreement about what is appropriate behavior at work.
The Fremantle Market considers that bullying in the workplace is inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour.
Stall holders or Management found to have either committed or condoned such behaviour in the markets will be subject to immediate disciplinary action.The purpose of this document is to provide an effective means to assist management and stall holders.

DEFINITIONS OF A BULLY:
A bully is a person who uses strength or power to coerce others by fear. To bully is to oppress, persecute, physically or morally by threat of superior force.
It is anyone who uses their position in power or strength of personality to misuse their authority against stall holders and management.While bullying is normally associated with unequal power relationships, peer to peer bullying is not uncommon and is equally unacceptable behaviour at the Fremantle Markets.
A variety of behaviours and acts may constitute bullying which create a negative workplace”

(Ah, that’s too funny. I believe you can pick up an official complaints form from the management. Good luck with that)

“Another form of despicable behaviour which seems to go unchecked is the constant running down of the Fremantle Markets and in particular FMPL and its staff to customers…Real customers are not interested…

(Do you think? I think Real Customers are very interested in what is happening to THEIR market and indeed are asking why the vibrant, friendly community feel is missing or why their regular people are missing – Seems management doesn’t know where they are. I have had a number of people contact me to ask about stallholders who are missing after calling the markets and being told that they have no contact for those X tenants!!!)

“The attempt by a minority in trying to destroying the reputation of the Fremantle Markets has and will continue to affect your business’s turnover.
There is a wonderful saying that a stall holder reminded me of the other day.
DON”T P… IN YOUR OWN POT… I think that sums it up nicely.”

(That minority are your own tenants, the Fremantle community and the media. Couldn’t possibly be ‘Your actions’ that are destroying that/what reputation.)

John and Jamie Murdoch- Fremantle Markets

ABOUT 100 stallholders crammed into the Fremantle council chambers last week for a special meeting to review the Fremantle Markets head lease, but half the councillors did not even attend.

Council agreed to review the head lease following allegations of breaches relating to the terms of subleases, the negotiation of fair market rent, quarterly meetings with stallholders and having constructive dialogue between stallholders and management.
A report will be made to council later this month and no further rent increases or lease and license terminations will be made until all the alleged breaches are resolved.

Mayor Peter Tagliaferri said he would attend the meeting but pulled out at the last minute while other councillors known to be supportive of the Fremantle Markets’ directors, John and Jamie Murdoch, were also absent.

Deputy mayor John Dowson chaired the meeting and said the “outpouring of grief and shock” by stallholders at the alleged rent rises and management practices at Fremantle Markets was “upsetting”.

Cr Haney was quick to explain at the meeting that she had not refused to meet with the Murdoch brothers as they had alleged the previous week, and had actually tried to meet with them before the council meeting.

Cr Georgie Adeane said she was particularly impressed with Cr Bill Massie’s suggestion that displaced or adversely affected tenants receive compensation from management for loss of income.

“I have great confidence in the council’s conviction and the ability of the officers to amend the problems and bring the tenants of this iconic building into line,” she said.
Stallholders Association secretary Colin Wright’s speech was met with applause from the gallery.

“Jamie claims publicly that ‘over half have happily accepted these increases’ but what he doesn’t say is this group is predominantly casual stalls who have to be happy,” he said.
“We are already seeing more empty casual stalls, and permanents who have been hit with their increases are starting to feel the reality of falling returns.”

Jamie Murdoch attended the meeting and was booed by several stallholders.
He said the matter hinged on several legal issues, which would hopefully be resolved soon.

http://fremantle.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Head-lease-gets-review/7522625/
Fremantle Gazette 7th April 09

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