Two Griffith women, Liz Purtell and Sharon Brown, found themselves at the center of a fight for justice following the collapse of the fashion empire Mosaic Brands. The duo, with a combined 42 years of experience at the women’s clothing store Autograph, were left in limbo when the store abruptly closed its doors in October 2024, leaving them and many other employees without their entitled long-service leave, annual leave, and redundancy pay.
The closure was part of a larger crisis as Mosaic Brands, the parent company, went into administration, owing a staggering $250 million to creditors. This collapse led to the shutdown of various other outlets under the Mosaic umbrella, including Katies, Rivers, Rockmans, and others, leaving thousands of employees uncertain about their financial future.
Despite their own struggles, Purtell and Brown decided to raise their voices to advocate for all the affected women who were left with nothing after the sudden closure. Their story caught the attention of SBS TV producers, who approached them to feature in a documentary on Dateline, shedding light on the repercussions of the Mosaic Brands collapse that extended from local stores to factories in Bangladesh.
During the intense interviews with Dateline, the women shared their experiences working at Autograph, from the prosperous days of fashion parades to the distressing decline that signaled the store’s eventual closure. The emotional journey of witnessing other stores shutting down while waiting for their turn on the chopping block was a poignant part of their narrative.
In a positive turn of events, the Albanese Federal Government intervened to ensure that workers like Purtell and Brown received their entitled payments through the Fair Entitlement Guarantee (FEG). While some former employees have already received their dues, others are still in the process of being compensated, including the Griffith duo who applied for FEG assistance five weeks ago.
Despite the delays in payment, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) has been actively supporting workers through the claims process. The ongoing efforts to secure the entitlements owed to the affected employees reflect a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging situation.
As the story of Liz Purtell and Sharon Brown unfolds on the national stage through the Dateline documentary, it serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination of individuals facing adversity in the wake of corporate collapses. Their courage to speak out and seek justice not only highlights the personal impact of such events but also underscores the importance of safeguarding workers’ rights in the fashion industry and beyond.
While the air date for the Dateline episode featuring the Griffith duo is yet to be announced, their journey stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and solidarity in the face of uncertainty and injustice.
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