Workers deserve dignity and respect, not bullying

By Vicki Hann and Margaret Vos

The NSW Labor Council has launched its Dignity and Respect in the Workplace campaign. This is the first step of the Labor Council's campaign to prevent bullying and harassment in the workplace.

NSW Labor Council Secretary John Robertson said the issue of bullying and harassment has been identified as a major issue in the workplaces when surveyed by unions.

Many people spoke about the bullying culture that exists in the workplace and outlined strategies to overcome this.

NSW Labor Council workers compensation and occupational health and safety officer Mary Yaager spoke about the history of the campaign and about the survey of workplaces that had been conducted.

Clinical psychologist Keryl Egan defined the types of bullies that exist:

• the accidental bullies who do it unintentionally and when under stress;
• the destructive bullies who bully and harass when they feel challenged;
• and the worst type of all, the serial bullies who do it because they choose to -- they do it subtly and with intent.

Many of the audience could recognise these profiles.

John McPhilbin shared his traumatic experiences as a bullied employee and we all felt his pain.

Representatives from the Western Sydney Area Health Service and the Premier's Department signed The Dignity and Respect in the Workplace Charter.

The purpose of this Charter is to set the standard for all work places.

It is not enough for the representatives of the employers and employees to sign this Charter, they need to be committed to putting the principles into everyday practice. It requires acceptable behaviour by everyone in the workplace.

Copies of the workplace charter can be downloaded from http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/safety_reps/files/charter_final.pdf.

Vicky Hann and Margaret Vos were Anna Stewart Temporary Officers during term 3.

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October 2004 contents