Truckie's bullying 'nightmare'

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A truck driver who received a $40,000 payout in a workplace bullying dispute says she thought she was going crazy when no one would help her.

"It was a nightmare beyond anything I've ever had to face," Kelly Tanner said yesterday.

"Not only was I suddenly realising just how bad it was, but then to find no one wanted to help me was horrible."

In an echo of the film North Country starring Charlize Theron and directed by Kiwi Niki Caro, the Employment Relations Authority found Tanner suffered psychological damage and was constructively dismissed.

She resigned from Mt Maunganui trucking company Todd and Pollack haulage last November. Speaking about the incident for the first time, Tanner said she still suffered post traumatic stress disorder and will not be cleared for work until mid-October.

She said she slept irregularly and occasionally woke with paranoid nightmares relating to her experiences.

Tanner also felt vindicated by the decision by ERA member Eleanor Robinson.

"I still can't believe I won. Not the money, although that's great too. I just can't believe she heard me, I can't believe she believed me. Sometimes it felt like no one else did."

Tanner said she initially had a good relationship with her manager, Cyril Friend, but that deteriorated when she split up with her partner, who left the company. Friend became abrupt with Tanner and addressed her by swearing at her, she said.

Tauranga Advocacy Network spokeswoman Rachel Rolston, who describes herself as a "social justice freak", supported Tanner through the hearing.

She said her friend felt "trapped" in the job because she had two children. "The company knew she was economically vulnerable," said Rolston.

When Tanner sought help she was turned away by various legal and Government services until Rolston took on her case. Housing New Zealand tried to evict Tanner from her home for not paying rent.

Rolston said Tanner was left "with a pile of debts, an empty cupboard, a broken-down car, no job, two kids to feed, and very little hope that this was ever going to end ... Kelly had to go with hat in hand to the Foodbank nearly every week to feed her kids."

Robinson acknowledged the company commenced an investigation into the bullying but by that time Tanner had already suffered psychological damage and it was too late.

Todd and Pollack haulage owner Robert Pasley, who also owns Te Kauwhata Transport, said he was yet to discuss the decision with his lawyer.

"We've still got 28 days," he said before hanging up. When the Herald on Sunday called back Pasley said the disconnection was "deliberate".

Touching costs job

A MAN who touched the bottom of his female workmate has failed in an attempt to get his job back.

Express Couriers parcels officer Stanley Tutahi Fisher told the Employment Relations Authority his dismissal from the Christchurch branch was unfair.

Fisher consistently denied touching the woman's bottom but CCTV footage showed he had. He had already received a final warning for sexual comments.