
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Letters to the Editor

Bullying A Bastardisation Ritual

What an excellent article "Employees forced into going slow" by Rod Smith , Sunday Telegraph 15,October. This article was on workplace harassment and its economic cost, unfortunately it done little but graze the tip of this surreptitious iceberg, and deserves more attention.(Workers online touched on this subject October 13).

Although there is extensive legislation covering all forms of harassment, with only a proof of probability required, rather than concrete evidence. It has been underutilized as in the Spirit of the legislation, and in some cases its use has been perverted to the extent of a "Star Chamber", inquisition style inquiry. With the only perceptible goal, being that of the excision of those who are heretics in the eyes of the offended organization.

One must also query - that with this effective legislation and the internal policies mirrored by most large companies and in particular, government bodies. Why is this harassment is permitted to continue? The reality is- it would be impossible for it to continue without the complicity of supervisory, management and/or Human Resource employees, under the duty of care imposed on all employees by the Occupational Health and Safety legislation.

Is it possible that management turns a blind eye, and is actually complicit in harassment, the concealment of, or the whitewashing of such behavior, in its efforts to conceal the level of its own incompetence? Or do we endorse systematic intimidation and harassment of our co-workers as rite of passage, in the ancient and honorable Australian Tradition of Bastardization?

Or as one Human Resource manager when questioned on his position and his employer's position rhetorically stated -

"Perhaps it is only the culture of the organization".

I doubt his employer would agree with this indifference.

It could be construed that on many occasions this legislation is misused by mischievous and/or malevolent organizations in their continued onslaught of malicious attacks on the majority of Australians, in the manner utilized by all colonial masters.

"Divide and Conquer"

The nemesis of this perversion is a niche that Unions should be capable of sliding into with ease!

Why is one forced into the legal system to seek what is a birthright "Human Dignity"

Tom Collins

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

» Bitter Dispute Ends With Joyful Tidings

» Bodgy Telemarketers Face Union Wrath

» Another Bastard Bank On Rampage

» Employers Reject Individual Contracts

» Time To Come Clean

» Child Care Workers Tell Kim How Howard Nicked Their Money

» Reith Must Apologise Say Hotel Workers

» Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

» Primed To Win

» Payday Nightmare Follows AFFA Outsourcing

» Palestinian Community Seeks Union Support

» Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

» WorkCover Goes For Gold In Paralympics