About 100 people attended a peaceful candlelight vigil at Sarnia City Hall Monday night, to raise awareness about bullying in the workplace.
Joanne Dunn shared her story of reporting a workplace harassment to a former employer.
"I've heard comments from people who say, 'if the bullying were to happen in the private sector, that person would be fired.' No they wouldn't. The victim would be fired," Dunn told the crowd. "I learned that I probably should have, that day, called the police, because what ultimately happened was HR (human resources) got us in a room together and hammered out these inane procedures that we both had to follow. So if I went to grab a coffee in the morning and saw this person getting a coffee, I had to stand back 6 ft to allow them to get their coffee. If we were walking down the hall and we saw each other, we would have to divert and take different direction."
Dunn said about three weeks later she was laid off.
"Was I laid off as a direct result of this? I don't know," she said. "It just seemed coincidental. I will never forget the disappointment that I felt for not having had anybody stick up for me. I followed the protocol which was going to HR and it didn't work. That's why I'm here tonight. I didn't necessarily want to speak but I was compelled to be here."
Donna Martin attended the rally to support her sister, brother and a friend who are victims of workplace bullying.
"I think by exposing that this can happen to any of us, it might lead to changes in the workplace," said Martin.
Sarnia City Councillor Brian White was pleased with the turnout.
"I think it was a good evening. I think the people that showed up here obviously showed up in solidarity with victims, which is a really important gesture," said White.
A majority of Sarnia's city councillors as well as the city manager and city engineer were in attendance, but did not address the crowd.
The mood was much more amicable, compared to an emotionally charged rally in support of embattled Mayor Mike Bradley on October 28. As many as 300 people attended that gathering to protest sanctions imposed against the mayor by city council for workplace bullying and harassment.
The latest sanctions against the mayor, including relocating his city hall office, came as a result of the workplace investigation report that found he bullied and harassed four senior staff members, including City Manager Margaret Misek-Evans.
The mayor was also docked three months pay after the integrity commissioner found he had breached councils code of conduct.
Councillor Cindy Scholten drew an angry response when she walked into the pro-Bradley crowd carrying an anti-bullying sign.
Joanne Dunn shares her story of reporting workplace harassment and being let go by her employer. pic.twitter.com/1J75RoF1rR
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) November 7, 2016
About 100 people attended the peaceful vigil tonight, which has now "rapped" up. #SLont pic.twitter.com/DVYNUl5bkQ— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) November 8, 2016
