A NEWLY opened Frankston restaurant inadvertently found itself at the centre of a political stoush last week after Liberal candidate for Frankston Sean Armistead called the manager of The Groove Train a “union buster” on Twitter.
Mr Armistead, who was attending a Liberal Party fundraiser for his election campaign at the restaurant last Sunday evening (13 July), faced a protest outside the venue by firefighters unhappy about a long-running pay and conditions dispute with the Coalition state government.
High-profile former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella’s presence at the dinner event seemed to have fired up some hostility between the protesters and Liberal Party supporters on the night.
United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said Ms Mirabella had gestured rudely at a firey.
“The Liberals’ discourtesy to Victoria’s emergency sector workers was on show when a firefighter politely asked a question,” Mr Marshall said.
“Sophie Mirabella turned and gave him an obscene gesture – a shock to the many who witnessed her action.”
Highett senior firefighter Peter Bevis told The Times “Sophie gave me the finger” when entering the restaurant building for the fundraiser.
He said Ms Mirabella had claimed she had been “scratching her nose”.
The Groove Train co-owner and manager Bonnie Cullen had asked protesters to clear the doorway to the restaurant, according to business partner and Groove Train founder John Dimos.
Mr Dimos said Ms Cullen’s intervention had led Mr Armistead to make “a tongue in cheek comment” via Twitter about Ms Cullen being “an awesome manager and union buster”.
Critics had subsequently slammed the restaurant online but Mr Dimos hosed down allegations The Groove Train has an anti-unions stance.
“We are not aligned politically with anyone,” he said.
“We’re a small business investing in Frankston and bringing jobs and a family friendly restaurant to the area.”
Mr Dimos was disappointed some people had criticised his business without knowing the facts.
“We’ve been subjected to nasty comments online… and people have been calling up saying they will never come to our restaurant.”
Mr Bevis said Ms Bullen had been respectful when she asked union members to move away from The Groove Train’s entrance.
“She asked us to move further towards the corner of the street which was fair enough,” he said.
As for Mr Armistead’s “union buster” tweet that caused the furore, Mr Dimos said the Liberal hopeful had “made a bad judgement call.”
“I asked him to take the tweet down and he has,” Mr Dimos said.
Mr Armistead told The Times: “It’s quite concerning when a light-hearted quip causes a backlash against a good local business.”
He said he deleted the Twitter comment for the The Groove Train’s sake and said he believed unions “played a necessary role… but it’s got to be a healthy and harmonious relationship between unions and employers.”
Mr Armistead condemned callers and online critics who had tried to “intimidate” Mr Dimos and his staff.
Mr Dimos said: “It’s just some clowns online getting upset… and I’m not going to cop bullying behaviour.”
Ms Mirabella did not respond to The Times before publication.
