February 6, 2022 — 5.00am
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At least five Melbourne docks workers bullied at work have been paid out nearly $3.4 million over behaviour including an assault on a female crane driver and threats that caused the company to hire 24-hour bodyguards to protect victimised staff.
Two of the workers said their employer DP World, a multibillion-dollar global company, had been unwilling to stamp out the bullying amid a workplace culture in which union-linked perpetrators were protected.
Sharon Bowker and Stephen Zwarts said stevedores who reported bullying claims were shunned, given less desirable jobs and hours, and threatened and intimidated.
Ms Bowker, a former crane driver, received a payout of $1 million in January after she was targeted over agreeing in 2013 to be a witness for a colleague who said she had been bullied and sexually harassed.
Ms Bowker said in following weeks she was “hip and shouldered”, had colleagues urinate in her work boots and was made aware of graffiti saying “Sharon B lagger” written on a crane.
“The [bullies] struggled with women on the waterfront… [one colleague] just put his head down and charged me like a bull. I went flying,” she said.
“Sometimes they pull their dick out and rub it all over the equipment you were about to use.
“I ended up with security guards at my property and a bodyguard that was appointed and paid for by DP World.
“I saw some terrible things happen to people. I...
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