Campaigns
The NTEU UNSW Branch is looking at how bullying is reported and dealt with at the University of New South Wales.
Just recently, we have been asked to represent members in a number of cases where bullying is a factor. Many staff at UNSW have told us that they have experienced a range of bullying behaviour in the workplace including; repeated rudeness, being undermined, discredited and demeaned to others, being shouted at, ignored and so forth. The literature reveals that the incidence of bullying is increasing incorporate
work places every where. While the data is scant, it suggests that bullying in
universities is also on the increase. Interviews with Australian academics
support this.
The NTEU believes this sort of behaviour is unacceptable. Workplace bullying is a serious Occupational Health and Safety hazard. Bullying behaviour can impact on the mental and physical health of the person subjected to the behaviour.
While there are some good elements in the University’s bullying policy http://www.hr.unsw.edu.au/employee/workbully.html too often we see instances where bullying behaviour is ignored, excused or the complainants themselves are harassed. We want to see the University treat instances of bullying with respect for the complainant.
If you have witnessed or experienced bullying behaviour at UNSW, please take the time to answer our survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bulliesatwork . This will help us put a case to management to improve policies and procedures to deal bullying at UNSW. Your participation will be completely anonymous if you wish.
On a more positive note, there have been a couple of recent successes in having the University give attention to allegations of bullying when staff members, assisted by the NTEU, put forward their allegations of bullying.
If you believe you have experienced bullying behaviour in your workplace please contact the NTEU for advice and information about tools to support you at: nteu@unsw.edu.au
For more information about workplace bullying please read Margaret Thornton’s excellent article:
(185 KB) - PDF
Corrosive Leadership (Or Bullying by Another Name): A Corollary of the Corporatised Academy?
Published: 30 Sep, 2011
Further Information
Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Rm 1211 Mathews Building Kensington Campus
University of NSW
Phone: 02 9385 2479
Fax: 02 9385 2570
unsw@nteu.org.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/unsw
Sarah Gregson
Branch President
s.gregson@unsw.edu.au
Kiraz Janicke
Branch Organiser
kjanicke@nteu.org.au
Richard Bailey
Branch Organiser
rbailey@nteu.org.au
