Whereas, the AFT resolution on Dignity, Respect and Justice in the Workplace (2009) defines workplace bullying as “a pattern of coercive, insidious behavior used by one person to gain or exercise power and control over another person and creates a harmful work environment”; and
Whereas, workplace bullying has also been defined, by the Workplace Bullying Institute, as the repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons by one or more perpetrators, taking the form of verbal abuse, such as threatening and humiliating or offensive behavior that interferes with or sabotages and prevents the completion of job-related tasks (Work Place Bullying Institute, WBI); and
Whereas, according to a Zogby Survey (2007), 54 million or 37% of all Americans have reported incidents of bullying in the workplace, and another 12% have been a witness to it; and
Whereas, the same survey indicates that 45% of targets suffer health problems related to bullying, such as stress, loss of sleep, severe anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, reduced immunity to infection, stress-related gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, pathophysiologic changes that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and other such conditions; and
Whereas, the same survey indicates that targets can suffer economic harm through termination, demotion or denial of promotion, and, in 70% of cases, targets are forced to leave their jobs voluntarily or involuntarily (“Worry for a Living? Workplace Bullying Report on Abusive Workplace,” APA Monitor on Psychology, Volume 37, No. 7 July/August 2006); and
Whereas, though 42% of bullied employees file a complaint with their employer, 60% of such complaints are ignored; and
Whereas, the majority of those victimized by this form of harassment are not members of a protected group; and
Whereas, workplace bullying, which is generally not prohibited by law in the United States, is four times more prevalent than illegal harassment or discrimination based on sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, disabilities, and veterans status; and
Whereas, fearing possible retaliation, as occurs in 52% of cases, victims often suffer in silence (“Worry for a Living? Workplace Bullying Report on Abusive Workplace,” APA Monitor on Psychology, Volume 37, No. 7 July/August 2006); and
Whereas, every worker has a right to be treated with dignity and respect and to work in a safe and healthy environment, free of verbal and nonverbal abuse, intimidating body language, retaliation, and any form of hostility; and
Whereas, the AFT Resolution on Dignity, Respect and Justice in the Workplace (2009) affirms the AFT’s core commitment to securing dignity, respect and fairness for all in the workplace; and
Whereas, seventeen states, including New York and Illinois, have introduced Healthy Workplace Bills to correct this injustice, and some have begun initial passage of the legislation—for example, New York, where the State Senate passed the bill in April 2010:
Resolved, that the AFT, which has already resolved to draft legislation that would make workplace bullying illegal, continue to work to see this legislation enacted, if necessary, creating a coalition of support with the AFL-CIO and other unions; and be it further
Resolved, that AFT continue to provide examples of relevant contract language to its locals, and that the AFT provide locals and state federations with examples of relevant state legislation, and that AFT continue to provide information about workplace bullying to its locals and state affiliates in order that they might pursue state and local remedies to correct legal victimization of our members and fellow workers.
Passed at the AFT Convention, July 2010.
