Ever find yourself in the face of injustice at work and you’re not sure where to act or what to say?   New Bystander Action Training run by the Victorian Labour College teaches using real life worker scenarios.  Training equips every union member with the necessary skills and confidence to act in solidarity against unsafe behaviours in the workplace. 

Bystander Action Training is the latest in union education – highlighting serious issues in the workplace and the importance of worker solidarity.  

The course is designed for all workers, regardless of gender or gender composition of your workplace. In fact, we need men to be allies. Gender violence can impact any worker who doesn't conform to gendered norms.  

Much like our forebears, we all have so much to learn to fight for better rights at work for everyone. That’s why this training is a must-do for all unionists. The course is two hours.  

Safer and stronger workplaces start with us.

What does it mean to be a good ally? 

An ally is a helpful person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity or struggle. Ally is also now used specifically to describe a person who is not a member of a marginalized or mistreated group but who expresses or gives support to that group. 

Being an ally has many sides – from speaking up against unsafe language and behaviours, to being educated and aware of different forms of workplace harm and building relationships and community connections – as well as tidying up our own beliefs. Once we begin to understand different forms of workplace harm and how they reinforce one another, we are more confident to step in to intervene in unsafe behaviours and call out injustice.  

For example, one of the easiest ways that we can prevent sexual harassment is by being an active bystander and speaking up. 

It’s all well and good to want to be a good ally, but what about being consciously skilled to assist, and helping others and yourself in the process of preventing workplace harm? Sometimes, behaviour crosses the line, and it becomes both an occupational health and safety issue – and an industrial issue. Being a good ally is not just about maintaining hope (although this is very important) – it’s about having the skills to use our voices for worker solidarity.  

When we become workers of our own liberation, we must reach out, listen and learn and be aware of our own rights at work. When we work within this framework and have the practical skills to safely and confidently speak up –   then we are better equipped to be the ally we never knew we could!  

As Aboriginal activist Lilla Watson said; 

If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.  

Bystander Action Training is a great avenue for all unionists seeking to engage in a thoughtful and realistic practical information session.  

Have you ever had an experience where you’ve witnessed unsafe behaviors at work?   

Maybe there is someone disrespecting you at work? 

Do you know how to identify and intervene safely before someone gets hurt?  

Worker solidarity transcends national borders, and regardless of our roles, everyone can play a part in challenging disrespect and injustice to support safer workplaces, everywhere. 

Unionists have more wins when we are all confident to step in when we witness unsafe behaviours in the workplace. 

If you’re not already down for the next session…what are you waiting for? 

Read more: Becoming Allies: Reaching across the Divide - The Commons 

Read more: Get Real about Privilege: Become an Ally - The Commons