
Dyson told of ACC bullies
21 April 2004
By CUSHLA MANAGH
ACC Minister Ruth Dyson said in reply to a written parliamentary question there had been no reported cases of work-related stress in ACC since mid-2003 but a trade union told her in September about bullying in the corporation.
The National Union of Public Employees wrote to her on February 20, 2002, about workplace stress. Allegations of bullying by ACC managers were also sent to Ms Dyson in a second letter last September, before her written response.
National MP David Carter asked Ms Dyson in December if any claims of work-related stress had been reported within ACC and, if so, how many in each of the past five years. Ms Dyson replied that ACC had kept statistics on employee reports of work stress since July and no cases had been reported identifying work-related stress as the "primary stressor".
Ms Dyson's private secretary acknowledged receipt of the first letter and promised a reply, which the union said yesterday it had never received. A response to the second letter, signed by Ms Dyson, said she was concerned and referred the matter to ACC's chief executive.
The Dominion Post asked Ms Dyson yesterday why she said there had been no cases of work-related stress reported when staff concerns had been raised with her by the union on several occasions.
She said she had been asked specifically about cases – rather than allegations – of work-related stress and had replied accordingly. She denied she was splitting hairs.
ACC has been investigated by Labour Department watchdog OSH after several complaints that staff have been suffering from overwork, stress and bullying by managers. The state agency, which is responsible for preventing workplace injuries, has said complaints had not been substantiated and it had confidence in its systems to manage workplace stress.
However, several former and current staff said they knew of colleagues who had nervous breakdowns as a result of working in a stressful environment. They said problems were rife in ACC's sensitive claims unit, which has 36 staff and has handled more than 20,000 sex abuse claims since January last year.
The union's 2002 letter complains of "excessive" workloads and stress being suffered by staff in the sensitive claims unit. Though Ms Dyson's private secretary acknowledged its receipt, Ms Dyson said yesterday she might not have seen the letter.
Union organiser Janice Gemmell said stress, bullying and workload issues were also raised with Ms Dyson at a meeting in Christchurch's trade union centre last June, and again in last year's letter to ACC's human resources director which was copied to the minister.
Ms Dyson said she had received "one, two or three" letters about staff concerns and had referred them to ACC. She was satisfied with how they had been handled and she promised to refer any allegations that were raised with her on to to the chief executive.
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