"Captain Bligh" Bullies Deckhand Overboard

A fishing boat skipper, described as "a latter-day Captain Bligh", bullied a 19-year-old deckhand to the point where he jumped overboard.

The Darwin Magistrates Court heard how deckhand Callum Moran tried to swim to a remote island because he thought he was going to be killed by the vessel's skipper, Captain Daniel Schoolmeester, following "vindictive and brutal" bullying.

Moran told police that he dived off the Tally Ho because he had been threatened continuously and was told it was "going to get worse".

"This is the sort of thuggery you hear of every day in the international shipping industry," says Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Sydney Branch Secretary Robert Coombs. "We get calls from crew asking for help all the time. And we take them on.

"Bullying is certainly not tolerated in the Australian industry. But you find pockets of non-unionised workers in fishing, pearling and tourism where bullying and exploitation are rampant - even on Sydney Harbour. We are looking into some of these areas right now."

The news comes as the Australian Army has also moved against bullying.

Former Chubb employee and bullying victim, John McPhilbin - who also served in the armed forces - has questioned why people in the workplace cannot be afforded the same protection as those in the military.

McPhilbin has urged bullying victims to speak out and be a part of the NSW Labor Council's Dignity and Respect at Work campaign.

The NSW Labor Council has produced a survey form, which can be obtained by phoning the Labor Council on 9264 1691.

The peak union body has also scheduled a conference on bullying that has been set down for the 8th of September at Sydney's Opera House.

To discuss this and many other interesting OH & S topics visit our discussion boards at http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/shoptalk/

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:38 EST