The message is getting through
ABCnews article Serious Bullying: Dangerously Underrated Problem May Be at Root of Shootings and Suicides suggests that attitudes to bullying are changing and that there is growing recognition of the unacceptability of bullying in school. The article is online at http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/2020/2020_011128_bullying.html

Two UK bullycides in November
13-year-old Morgan Musson endured bullying for months before taking an overdose. Details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_1668000/1668012.stm
16-year-old Elaine Swift took an overdose after months of bullying at two schools. She was targeted after being featured in the media for having donated bone marrow to her younger sister who was suffering from leukaemia. Details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_1680000/1680522.stm
Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair was the lucky recipient of a copy of Bullycide: death at playtime recently. You might like to write to her and encourage her to build on her involvement in tackling school bullying: Mrs Cherie Blair, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA

Spin doctors in action again
The UK government is trying to keep the lid on the rapid rise in applications to employment tribunal. In 2000 there were 130, 000 applications; in other words, every year in the UK, 1 in 220 people are forced to consider taking their employer to court. Rather than identify the reasons why so many employees are placed in this position, the government is proposing to make it mandatory for employees to follow internal grievance procedures and empowering tribunals to cut awards if grievance procedures haven't been pursued. The proposed Bill will have disastrous consequences for bullied employees who are already disadvantaged by lack of legislation; for the reasons why grievance procedures are inappropriate for dealing with bullying see the new page workbully/grieve.htm
Make your views felt by writing to the Trade and Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET. I suggest one page of A4 (two maximum) and feel free to use information from Bully OnLine.

Sick leave culture v. days lost
Whilst on the subject of suppressing effects rather than identifying and tackling causes, UK employers' organisation the CBI is blaming GPs and the healthcare sector for artificially prolonging the amount of time employees take off work. No mention is made of the causes of sick leave: bullying, harassment, undue work pressures, bad management, threat, intimidation, coercion, etc etc. Details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1688000/1688921.stm

Employers' solicitors accused of bullying
Employers' solicitors Eversheds is being sued for £100,000 by former credit control manager Margaret Henderson who alleges she was prevented from doing her job by bullying at the Newcastle office. This is the second claim arising out of Eversheds' in Newcastle within a year.

Canadian union tables resolution on bullying
Awareness of bullying in Canada is growing. Public employees union CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) recently tabled resolutions at their 2001 Convention to raise the profile of bullying and stress:
http://www.cupe.ca/aboutcupe/convention2001/showitem.asp?ID=3893
http://www.cupe.ca/aboutcupe/convention2001/showitem.asp?ID=4049

Whitewash attempt in Joy Pugh case
In a manner reminiscent of at least 98% of cases reported to my Advice Line, the management of UK public sector union Unison is backing the Welsh regional secretary Derek Gregory despite the fact that his behaviour, and that of his assistant Beverley Cole, resulted in a court award of £90,000 compensation for six years of bullying and harassment, as well as bringing Unison into disrepute. Details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_1688000/1688376.stm with the latest moves to dismiss Mr Gregory at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_1696000/1696470.stm

Pages you may have missed
Ever asked yourself, "Why me?". Wonder no longer, see workbully/bully.htm#Why
Why have my work colleagues turned against me? workbully/bystand.htm
Answers to frequently-asked questions workbully/faq.htm

Still time to order for Christmas...
If you've not yet invested in a copy of Bully in sight or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Bullycide: death at playtime you can still order now in time for Christmas. Treat yourself, or a friend, and make a difference in 2002. Order online at successunlimited/books/ccform.htm (note the "s" on "https" if you type this by hand).

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