AFT Resolutions IN SUPPORT OF A HEALTHY WORKPLACE AND AGAINST WORKPLACE BULLYING

[Kathy]

American Federation of Teachers Resolutions
IN SUPPORT OF A HEALTHY WORKPLACE AND AGAINST WORKPLACE BULLYING
WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers resolution on Dignity,
Respect and Justice in the Workplace (2009) defines workplace bullying
as a "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 Work Place
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 percent
of all Americans have reported incidents of bullying in the workplace,
and another 12 percent have been a witness to it; and

WHEREAS, the same survey indicates that 45 percent 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
percent 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, although 42 percent of bullied employees file a complaint
with their employer, 60 percent 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 percent 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's Resolution on Dignity, Respect and Justice in the
Workplace (2009) affirms the AFT's core commitment to securing dignity
and fairness for all in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, 17 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; and

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers, 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

RESOLVED, that the 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 the AFT continue to provide information about workplace bullying
to its local and state affiliates in order that they might pursue
state and local remedies to correct legal victimization of our members
and fellow workers.