‘Unity is strength’

Unite assistant general secretary for equalities Diana Holland spoke in support of a composite at Unite’s Policy conference  on Wednesday (July 4) as she called for an end to sexual harassment once and for all.

“These are deeply divisive, dangerous and difficult times for our world, and the reality of sexual harassment, violence and abuse against women and girls because they are women and girls, has been shockingly exposed worldwide over the past two years,” she said.

“This is about power, abuse of power, and at this policy conference we want to make it 100 per cent crystal clear — our union opposes all forms of sexual harassment, violence and abuse of women, hand in hand with our opposition to harassment of all forms, including against black, Asian and ethnic minority, disabled, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans, and migrant workers, as well as young and older members and religious harassment.”

She called on conference to “come together here and now in unity as the trade union family we are”.

“We must ensure no worker suffering sexual or other harassment, domestic violence or abuse suffers alone,” she said. “They must be able to turn to our union for trusted, strong, effective support, solidarity and representation.”

Diana highlighted the substantial progress made over the last few years over sexual harassment.

“We transformed workplace after workplace, sector after sector,” she said. “We held employers and governments to account and we changed our unions for the better.”

But she added that she was “dismayed and so angry” that in 2018 “it seems we need to do this all over again”.

“Like many of you, I carry with me the sadness and pain of our members whose lives have been changed forever because of sexual harassment,” she noted. “Like health and safety, we need prevention first and foremost.”

She called for ‘three points of action’ including  “an audit of all workplace policies, to check they are fit for purpose in today’s world, backed up by union education; two, a campaign for paid release to bargain on equality , and statutory rights for union equality reps, already in Labour’s 20 point plan; and three, a campaign for a new duty on employers to provide workplaces free from violence and harassment, including third parties. We also need a strong ILO convention to protect workers globally, too.”

“We can all make a difference,” Diana went on to say. “If you’re not sure if it’s sexual or any form of harassment, don’t do it. If you witness someone being harassed, don’t stand by. If you face harassment, the union is with you.

“And remember the message to today’s trade unionists from the Ford women machinists whose strike was 50 years ago this year — ‘Always stick together, stand up for what’s right, and don’t give up’.”

“Unity is strength,” she concluded to applause.

The composite was carried.