Review

Beware the juggernaut, my son

THE WHISTLEBLOWER’S HANDBOOK: How to be an effective resister
Brian Martin
Jon Carpenter, £10.00

Most of us must have wondered at some time or another whether we should try to expose or change something we disapprove of in our workplace. Here is a book that will help. It is intensely practical and shows an up-to-date, in-depth understanding of organisations and what makes them tick.

This matters, because organisations do not act like people: their morals and logic are different and any whistleblower will suddenly find that what was a collection of workmates and bosses quickly turns into an immoral, time-serving juggernaut when it looks as if inconvenient facts are about to be uncovered.

As Martin says, ‘lots of whistleblowers start out thinking the system works’ – particularly if they are dedicated workers rather than hardened cynics. He then goes on to explain why it so often fails.

Take for example a situation not unknown to health workers: ‘A manager may be a ruthless bully, may be incompetent, may be corrupt, or may introduce dubious and dangerous policies. Nevertheless higher management almost always supports this manager against challenges from below or outside.’

And with the high-profile example of the Bristol babies in the news over the past year, who can doubt that the system is heavily biased against whistleblowers?

The book offers sound advice on joint action, mobilising support and using political processes. It also explains different ways of exiting from whistleblowing and how to survive the strain of a long campaign. Perhaps Martin should have been less graphic in his descriptions of the problems of whistleblowing. Certainly everyone who reads the book will think twice about speaking out, and quite a few will decide against it.

Those who persist will be helped, but this is not just a book for activists. It is a highly readable guide to understanding how organisations work and worth £10 to anybody interested in the dynamics of the workplace.