We stand together or fall alone - CWA Local 1180

6 J u l y /Au g u s t ’11
C o m m u n i q u e
Working on a problem to reach consensus.
A sample resolution on bullying in the workplace
Be it resolved that the social and
economic well-being of the State is
dependent upon healthy and productive
employees;
2. Be it resolved that surveys and studies
have documented that between 16
and 21 percent of employees directly
experience health-endangering workplace
bullying, abuse, and harassment,
and that this behavior is four times more
prevalent than sexual harassment alone;
3. Be it resolved that surveys and studies
have documented that abusive work
environments can have serious and
even devastating effects on targeted
Audrey Henderson and
Michael Priccoli in a role play.
employees, including feelings of shame
and humiliation, stress, loss of sleep, severe
anxiety, depression, post-traumatic
stress disorder, suicidal tendencies,
reduced immunity to infection, stressrelated
gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension,
and pathophysiologic changes
that increase the risk of cardiovascular
disease;
4. Be it resolved that surveys and
studies have documented that abusive
work environments have serious consequences
for employers, including reduced
employee productivity and morale,
higher turnover and absenteeism rates
The Shop Steward
By Gary Schoichet
A shop steward knocked at the heavenly gate His face was scared and old He
stood before the decider of his fate for admission to the fold. “What have you
done,” Saint Peter said, “To gain admission here?” “I’ve been a shop steward,
Sir, for many and many a year,” he said. The pearly gate swung open wide, St.
Peter touched the bell. “Come in and choose your harp”, he said. “You’ve had
your share of hell.”
Author unknown (but probably a shop steward)
It’s not that bad. While many
stewards have been known
to complain about the job,
the members, the time they
spend, the thanklessness
that goes with the position,
they also realize how important they
are in the functioning of the union.
A good steward, a well-trained steward
is the backbone of the organization.
Stewards are the link between
the leadership of the union and the
rank-and-file members.
In general, most union stewards
perform the following functions:
and significant increases in medical and
workers’ compensation claims;
5. Be it resolved that unless employees
have been subjected to abusive treatment
at work on the basis of race, color,
sex, national origin or age, they are unlikely
to have legal recourse to redress
such treatment;
6. Be it resolved that legal protection
from abusive work environments should
not be limited to behavior grounded in
protected class status such as that provided
for under employment discrimination
statutes; and,
Monitor and enforce the provisions
of the collective bargaining agreement;
ensure that the firm is in
compliance with all federal, state
and local laws and regulations; represents
workers through the grievance
procedure; communicate and
disseminate official union policy;
promote union consciousness and
values in the workplace.
Towards those ends and other
ends, Local 1180 invited a group of
stewards to a training to explore
how the union can counter the
attacks on public sector work-
7. Be it resolved that existing workers’
compensation plans and common-law
tort actions are inadequate to discourage
this behavior or to provide adequate
redress to employees who have been
harmed by abusive work environments.
8. Be it resolved that our union will address
workplace bullying through member
awareness, steward training, joint
labor/management committees, collective
bargaining and legislative initiatives.
Source: Yamada (2004). Adapted from
Healthy Workplace Bill: Findings and
Purposes
photos 6 & 7: Gary schoichet