An Post worker loses action alleging bullying and harassment

A mail sorter has lost her High Court action alleging she was subjected to a campaign of bullying and harassment which left her "terrified" about returning to her job in a Dublin sorting centre.

Joanne Rundle (38), Shanliss Avenue, Santry, Dublin, sued An Post over alleged bullying between 2005 and 2006 at the Dublin Mails Centre (DMC) in Clondalkin, Dublin, where 850 people are employed.

She claimed she was subjected to a “relentless campaign of mean and spiteful behaviour” which caused her severe anxiety, and left her out of work for lengthy periods and “terrified” about returning to the DMC. She is now working in the GPO in Dublin for An Post, which had denied her claims.

The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, said, based on the evidence before the court, he could not make a finding that Ms Rundle was bullied in her workplace, and would dismiss the claim.

The judge said he found the evidence given by witnesses for An Post concerning incidents of alleged bullying to be “more credible” than accounts given on behalf of the plaintiff.

An Post had made considerable efforts to address Ms Rundle’s health problems by moving her from the DMC to a position at An Post’s facility at Dublin Airport, which was seen as a good place to work, he said.

The judge noted Ms Rundle had claimed she had been working for nearly five years as a post sorter at the DMC when in mid-2005 she was subjected to bullying after she made a complaint to her trade union representative. Between 2005 and March 2006, she said, she was treated differently from her colleagues.

The alleged bullying included persistent and deliberate staring, pestering, humiliation on front of colleagues, aggressive behaviour, verbal abuse and attempts to undermine her role.

She had claimed she was under constant supervision, including being told she could not leave her work station other than for breaks or to go home, led her to feeling stressed and on March 9th, 2006, she went on certified sick leave, the court noted.

The judge said he did not accept she had been bullied and he found she was rather spoken to by different supervisors for a number of what might be perceived minor matters.

In all the circumstances. he could not make a finding of bullying against An Post and had to dismiss her claim.

He will deal with costs issues next week and he asked that An Post give considered thought before seeking its legal costs as Ms Rundle is still working for the organisation.