TUC Women’s Conference spotlights sexual harassment

Combating sexual harassment was a major theme of last month’s TUC Women’s Conference, with a particular emphasis on removing it from the trade union movement itself.

While commending the efforts of the TUC and some unions to address the problem, delegates agreed that, “whilst trade unions have been quick to hold employers and governments to account over [widespread sexual harassment], they have been reluctant to act within their own ranks”. The conference called on the TUC to explore introducing an independent, confidential reporting line for trade union members and staff to report incidents of sexual harassment and assault, and to continue to encourage unions to examine their own internal policies and procedures.