Bullying bosses targeted

A boss in Castle Hill, in Sydney's north-west, with half his 
staff on stress leave, stands accused of systematic bullying. The 
Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) has heard the disability 
centre manager abused and swore at staff, made them work over 18 
consecutive hours, and forced a sick worker out of the toilet to 
attend a meeting.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) told the Commission the 
manager pressured staff to alter legal documents and forged a 
signature.

Seven staff at the centre, all on workers' compensation, were at 
home recovering from workplace stress.

Deputy President Grayson of the IRC stressed the paramount 
importance of occupational health and safety (OHS) issues at the 
workplace and directed the state's OHS body, WorkCover, to do a 
safety audit of the centre.

He also directed parties to confer in relation to the manager's 
continued presence in the workplace. Most of the seven board 
members who oversee the centre have so far stuck by the manager 
but it is understood at least one has quit, citing philosophical 
differences. The manager, who was on honeymoon with a board 
member, did not attend the IRC hearing.

ASU organiser, Jim Piotrowski, says the bullying case is the 
worst he has ever heard of.

"What we want is a safe workplace. We will be making 
representations to the state government which ultimately funds 
the service", he said.

Meanwhile, the manager of a Fairfield disability service is 
standing his ground after accusations of bullying and harassment 
led to a two-day strike.

Work bans are continuing and more strike action is possible 
unless the manager stands down while an independent inquiry 
probes workers' concerns.

Nearly 20 staff at the Fairfield Community Resource Centre have 
sworn stat decs alleging a pattern of bullying and overbearing 
management practices. The ASU alleges experienced workers are 
leaving the centre because they can no longer tolerate the 
manager's behaviour.