Posts Tagged workplace

Workplace Harassment and American Injustice

Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, Safety, Woman Truckers, otr trucking, trucking, trucking companies, trucking life on August 17th, 2009

“The most odious of all oppressions are those which mask as justice.”

That statement was once made by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson. It’s a statement that I often recall when I hear or read about a so-called “victory” within our American judicial system. Granted, the system is not perfect, but it’s the best on the planet as far as “man” goes. Without a doubt it continues to rid America of criminals that prey on the weak and vulnerable. Like most things however, there are flaws. Criminals, most often seem to have more rights than the victims. Also, when it comes to our judicial system, many times nothing is more truer than the old saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

Those who have the courage to stand up and speak out about workplace harassment within the trucking industry and are not willing to sell themselves out to businesses or organizations, are making a difference within the industry. A difference that has some big players in the trucking game growing nervous. That is what the truth does . . . it can make a lot of people nervous. It can also strengthen a person’s courage to come forward and fight for what is right.

More and more, student, inexperienced and female drivers are coming to the front lines and exercising their rights as employees. Female drivers who have experienced harassment, abuse and even rape by male driver trainers, are going to court and fighting back. It’s about time. Some have won . . . and some have lost, but they fought back. This is the ultimate sign that things are changing and they will continue to change as long as there are those who will speak out against these secrets of the trucking industry and other industries as well. Not to be bought out . . . not to be frightened by threats . . . but to move forward with truth which holds the key in bringing about real change for the better, to an industry that has its share of corruption, lies and abuse.

There will be those workplace harassment cases that will be thrown out due to some trivial oversight, but not because the cases were not warrant. An attorney missed something . . . the statute of limitations were missed . . . or somebody “knew” somebody in high places. All to often, sadly enough, there will be those true victims that will run right into the brick wall of American injustice. The accused will claim “victory,” but I would like to know where exactly is the justice?

A friend in high places . . . Congress, Senate, Judge? American justice can be bought and paid for … it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

When victims lose the judicial battle, many times they still win. They won by not backing down and facing the demon head on and saying, “You cannot allow this treatment of drivers to continue, or we will fight back.” They may not win the case every time, but their courage and determination speaks volumes to many others and can lead them to follow in their footsteps and not back down when faced with violations of their employment rights. When a case is thrown out over some missed, minute detail, this is no victory for the accused. The facts of the case were never heard . . . the victims never had the opportunity to provide testimony . . . the defendant has no victory at all . . . just another example of judicial injustice.

Workplace harassment, whether it be in trucking or any other business . . . is not going away . . . but those of us who cannot be “bought out” by trucking companies, businesses and organizations . . . are not going away either.

Allen Smith

: abuse, female drivers, harassment, harassment case, inexperienced, injustice, judicial, justice, male driver trainers, rape, student, trucking, trucking industry, workplace

abuse, female drivers, harassment, harassment case, inexperienced, injustice, judicial, justice, male driver trainers, rape, student, trucking, trucking industry, workplace

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How to Report Workplace Harassment

Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Talk Radio Show, Truck Driving Jobs, trucking, trucking companies on June 30th, 2009

Internet trucking talk radio show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” continued their efforts in reporting the abuse and harassment that is taking place in some areas of the trucking industry. Seldom reported, more and more are “speaking out” against this workplace abuse and the final result that is being worked towards is change.

With lawsuits being placed against some trucking companies and hundreds of complaints being filed by employees of trucking, people are finally fighting back for their employee rights.

Topics of the show included: What you can do if ever faced with an abusive situation at your workplace and what steps you should take to protect your rights as an employee and to insure that the correct procedures are followed so action is taken against the abuser.

Although it can be a difficult subject matter to discuss, too many new student drivers, male and female, have been faced with abusive actions while training with some trucking companies and they need to understand that they have rights as employees under the law, and can fully act upon those laws to pursue action against the company, driver trainer or anyone else who violates their rights.

Learn more about your rights as an employee . . .

: abuse, employee, harassment, rights, trucking, trucking companies, workplace

abuse, employee, harassment, rights, trucking, trucking companies, workplace

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Trucking Advocates Discuss Workplace Harassment

Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Talk Radio Show, trucking on June 24th, 2009

Workplace harassment With the recent news touching on bullying and harassment within the workplace, trucking talk radio – Truth About Trucking “LIVE” aired a 2 hour show last evening discussing these very issues. Guests were JB Shaffner, Desiree Wood, Damien and special guest Yancy Thomas.

Bringing in a record listening audience, the show proved to be an eye opener for many as the purpose was to discuss these issues within the trucking industry, as well as to find solutions for the problem.

Bullying and harassment within the workplace has become a very serious issue and we will continue to broadcast future shows in order to help bring this matter out more into the main stream media.

The next show: Dealing with Workplace Harassment - will air live on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 7 PM EST.

What can you do if ever faced with an abusive situation at your workplace? What steps can you take to protect your rights as an employee and to insure that the correct procedures are followed so action is taken against the abuser? Just because trucking is far different than the average workplace, you still have rights and you do not have to accept any abuse or harassment by the trucking company, trainer or anyone else within the industry. How to deal with workplace harassment … Allen continues the discussion …

: bullying, dealing with harassment, harassment, industry, solutions, talk radio, trucking, truth about trucking, workplace

bullying, dealing with harassment, harassment, industry, solutions, talk radio, trucking, truth about trucking, workplace

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Bullying in the Workplace

Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Talk Radio Show, trucking, trucking companies on June 13th, 2009

Bullying in Trucking As elementary as it may seem, intimidation by the workplace bully has actually become a silent epidemic . . . not only in this country, but worldwide. A recent study on bullying in the workplace, showed that 37% of the population is or has experienced being bullied while performing their job duties. It is believed that many cases go unreported, and worse yet, many companies do nothing about it once reported.

Often told to “just gut up and handle it” – bullying has become so overwhelming for some, that in recent years a new term has been coined: bullycide. In recent years, kids as young as 13, as well as adults, have taken their own lives due to the cowardly acts of these still-existent bullies. The trucking industry is no exception.

Many CDL students and specifically, female drivers are finding themselves being “bullied” by some driver trainers. Many of these trainers are known convicted felons, still hired by the trucking company. With the lack of professional women trainers, female students are placed in a truck with a male trainer and are finding themselves harassed, assaulted and even raped. Many male students are being “thrown out” of the truck in the middle of nowhere by these bully trainers and left stranded . . . yet, the trucking company will terminate the student, and do nothing in response to the trainer’s actions.

Even when an act as violent as rape has occurred, the situation is turned around in order to place the fault upon the female driver. When one female driver was recently raped by one of the felon trainers, the trucking company simply asked her, “Well, did you keep your curtain closed?” This driver was terminated from her job and the felon male driver trainer remained with the company, receiving no repercussion of any kind. There are hundreds of cases like this one playing out within the trucking industry today, yet, they remain to be reported by the main news media.

Most trucking companies and driver trainers are professional and respectful individuals. Still, there are a handful of trucking companies who continue to hire known felons and place them in a position as a driver trainer, and simply turn the other way when acts of bullying and violent crimes take place . . . punishing only the victim. We are taking a stance to reporting this type of behavior and to push it out into the main stream media in order to let it be known. It has got to STOP!

There is a massive difference between bullying and rape. Recently, one trucking company received 265 complaints by female drivers and very little was done. Now facing 35 counts of sexual harassment, the other 230 reports were “thrown out” by the courts because they were not filed within the 45 day reporting deadline. Another tactic used by these trucking companies that allow these acts to take place.

Truth About Trucking “LIVE” will begin bringing this epidemic to light on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 7:30 PM EST. Host Allen Smith, will present a one hour commentary on the trucking talk radio show, setting the stage for the main broadcast which will be on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 7:30 PM EST. With a special guest panel, the 2 hour show will reveal the truth behind the bullying and violent assaults that many CDL students and new drivers are facing within the trucking industry. Future shows will be slated, as we continue to push forward in order to stop these acts from occurring, and to demand that the trucking companies who knowingly allow these acts to continue, STOP!

Solutions to the problem will be a major focus for the show. It’s time to report these acts of violence and let it be known that the correct measures must be put in place to prevent them from happening.

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 – 7:30 PM EST - Bullying in the Workplace

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 - 7:30 PM EST – Hostile Training and Work Environments within Trucking

Join us as we report on Truth About Trucking “LIVE”

: bullycide, bullying, cdl students, driver trainers, female driver, female drivers, hostile training, rape, solutions, talk radio, trainer, trucking, trucking company, trucking industry, truth about trucking, workplace

bullycide, bullying, cdl students, driver trainers, female driver, female drivers, hostile training, rape, solutions, talk radio, trainer, trucking, trucking company, trucking industry, truth about trucking, workplace

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AskTheTrucker

Posts Tagged workplace