What does it say about bullying in the workplace that a coroner would conclude that it appeared 19-year-old Brodie Rae Constance Pancock had committed suicide after a group of fellow workers were ‘relentless in their efforts to demean her’? As sad as the whole affair is it is a telling reminder of important unions and the principles of collectivism are in the workplace.

As apprentices officer Omar Merhi explained, 'We simply don't tolerate anyone treating a fellow worker in this way.  I only recently dealt with a case of a woman being bullied.  I told them clearly about the consequences and the bullying stopped straight away'.

Although WorkSafe laid charges Omar Merhi says WorkSafe should be more proactive in the way it polices bullying. ‘We have the absurd situation where workers who raise OH&S matters are bullied by the ABCC but some bosses bully without fear. Ms Panlock jumped from a car park building on September 20, 2006.

It’s instructive that the Age newspaper’s account of the inquest carried information about the beyond blue website and the suicide helpline.  We’d suggest that information about how unions reps such as Omar Merhi assist union members facing bullying and how workers are better able to deal with such bullying when in a union would have been more helpful.