Common use of Harassment in the Workplace Clause in Contracts

Harassment in the Workplace. 27.01 Harassment is not a joke. It is cruel and destructive behaviour against others that can have devastating effects. Harassment, by coworkers in particular, is contrary to our basic union principles of solidarity and equality. It is an expression of perceived power and superiority by the harasser(s) over another person, usually for reasons over which the victim has little or no control; sex, race, age, creed, colour, marital status, family status, sexual preference, disability, political or religious affiliation, or place of national origin. Harassment on any of these grounds can be made the basis of a complaint to most provincial and federal human rights commissions. Harassment can be defined as an unwelcome action by any person, in particular, by management, customer or member and/or a co-worker, whether verbal or physical, on a single or repeated basis, which humiliates insults or degrades. Unwelcome or unwanted in this context means any actions, which the harassers know or ought reasonably to know, are not desired by the victim of the harassment. Sexual harassment is any unwanted attention of a sexual nature, such as remarks about appearances or personal life, offensive written or visual actions, like graffiti or degrading pictures, physical contact of any kind, or sexual demands. Racial harassment is any action, whether verbal or physical that expresses or promotes racial hatred in the workplace such as racial slurs, written or visually offensive actions, and jokes or other unwanted comments or acts. By pitting certain groups of workers, such as women or ethnic minorities against others, harassment creates a climate of intolerance and division among the membership. By eroding our unity and strength, it can weaken our effectiveness in the workplace, at the bargaining table or on the picket line. It is the responsibility of management to ensure that the workplace is free of harassment.