Online support against bullying for publishers' employees

The GPMU print and media union has launched support websites for employees of two Oxford-based publishers in response to a growing number of complaints about bullying in the publishing and bookselling industry,

The websites, covering Blackwells and Reed Elsevier, are designed to receive anonymous postings from employees of the two firms so they can freely discuss issues affecting them at work.

They also contain links to information such as salary surveys in the publishing industry.

GPMU organiser Maggi Bremner said: "We are hoping that these sites can act as a support network for those facing bullying at work and also in dealing with other employment related problems and queries."

She added: "Often people will suffer in silence, or not even realise they have rights and that help is available through their union."