Unions & Equalities

Work and menopause

Menopause at work hit the headlines on 22 February as the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued new guidance on the issue. However, the guidance only affirmed what the law has been for the last fourteen years, and the fact that news coverage trumpeted it as a breakthrough can only mean that employers have not been following the law. The key point in the EHRC’s guidance is that severe menopause symptoms may well be classed as a disability under the 2010 Equality Act. That is not news to trade unionists who have been representing women who meet the Act’s definition of “disability” as a...

Union sets plan on sexual harassment

On 7 February, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) published the results of an independent inquiry which it commissioned into sexual harassment in the union, alongside an initial action plan signed off by the Executive Council. The headline finding is shocking: 30 per cent of FBU women members have experienced sexual harassment by fellow members in a union context. The inquiry surveyed all women and BME FBU members, as well as a random selection of white men. The work was supported by the FBU’s National Women’s Committee. The report was commissioned following a series of scandals in other unions. In...

After TSSA, all unions need checking

An Inquiry has found a culture of sexism, harassment and bullying in the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA). Helena Kennedy KC reported: “It gave me no pleasure to uncover a series of appalling incidents, alongside leadership and management failings in the TSSA. These incidents included inappropriate and sexual touching, sexual assault, coercive and manipulative behaviour, violent and disrespectful language, humiliation and denigration of members of staff, reps and members of the Executive Committee.” Included in the recommendation is that none of the current senior staff she calls...

Discrimination in London Fire Brigade

Socialists and trade unionists are appalled by revelations of discrimination and bullying captured by the recently-published Independent Culture Review into London Fire Brigade (LFB). The review, chaired by Nazir Afzal, was commissioned by London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe after the death of firefighter Jaden Matthew Francois-Esprit, who took his own life in August 2020. The review found that many women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBT+ and neurodiverse staff within LFB had experienced discrimination and bullying. Women firefighters had been groped, beaten and had their helmets filled...

Democracy vs sexism in the unions

Reel News uploaded a video detailing serious allegations against senior officers in the transport union TSSA by former organiser Claire Laycock. The TSSA responded by trying to force a court injuncting against Reel News and Laycock. The injunction against the news site was thrown out, but an injunction against Laycock for breaking her Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is still in place. Reel News reports they have been contacted by other staff who allege sexual harassment and have been silenced by gagging orders. “From Saturday night, people started getting in contact with us having watched the...

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