By NMRN

“Staff at one of Britain’s biggest trade unions, the GMB, have voted to strike over claims the organisation has failed to act on a report which branded it “institutionally sexist”.

“Karon Monaghan KC was called in to investigate sexual harassment in the GMB in 2020”.

“Employees in the North East say promised reforms have not materialised”.

“The Monaghan investigation began after the abrupt resignation of the then-General Secretary Tim Roache”.

“She concluded that “bullying, misogyny, cronyism, and sexual harassment were endemic” in the union.

Her report found there was a “bully-boy atmosphere”, describing the union as a “hostile environment” for women, and said a “complete transformation” in culture and practices was required.

When Gary Smith was elected General Secretary in 2021, he promised to implement the recommendations of the Monaghan Report in full.

But almost three years later, GMB staff in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber (NEYH) region claim progress has stalled, with a taskforce set up to carry out reforms being disbanded.

Dozens of GMB employees – who are themselves represented by the Unite union – have now overwhelmingly backed industrial action.

They also allege that disciplinary procedures are not being followed and their own Unite union representatives have been intimidated”.

Also in Skwawkbox there was an article they wrote on 6 March 2024 on Gary Smith.

“No response from GMB to recording of Smith ‘threatening’ sexual harassment victim”

“The GMB trade union has failed to respond to an urgent press enquiry from Skwawkbox about the serious accusations made against it by a woman employee of sexual harassment and rape by one of its senior officials – and of threats made by GMB boss Gary Smith if she did not withdraw the complaint and sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).”

“While most of the victim’s allegations of what Smith said are related verbally, on one occasion she recorded Smith appearing to acknowledge that she had been abused, but warning her that if she ‘put a gun on the table’ she would be fired back at and that as a ‘big organisation’ ‘we’ would always have more money and better lawyers for a legal battle – and that there’d be no room for tears if things went badly, so ‘don’t get into that game’ “

But all I see is…..

We still have GMB Reps desperate to do photo ops with Labour leader Anas Sarwar next to piles of rubbish (as they, GMB, call a strikes on rubbish collection)….I mean Unions are supposed to be for workers rights and not an extension of a (Pro) UK political party…..if they want to do politics then they should , individually, put themselves up for election on behalf of a political party and not work undercover within a trade Union(though also actually some of them are quite blatantly obvious in who, politically, they support and act on behalf of) I.e. ONE political party….as in the Labour party….and here’s a reminder that the workers they, as a Union, should also support should be female members too….though the Equal Pay dispute with Glasgow Labour council was not the GMB’s finest moment…..as tis never a good thing to be seen to conspire with a political party against the workers (as in the women)….is it ?

Perhaps some within the GMB need to get ‘their own house in order’ before jumping incessantly onto the #SNPBAD bandwagon…..just sayin.

Footnote:

Scottish Labour have a thing with the GMB and bin men. Their Central Ayrshire candidate, MBE and former British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India and Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia, but son of bin man, last Sunday:

For more on the above gent: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/03/13/central-ayrshire-labour-candidate-would-not-commit-to-helping-1-560-children-out-of-poverty/