We have been listening to ladies with accounts of alleged bullying, misogyny, cronyism, and sexism which they declare is rife inside the GMB Union.
So I went to seek out the top of the group to ask him why some ladies at his union nonetheless really feel like they’re handled unfairly.
How we tracked him down
Via a dimly lit automotive park in the course of a Tuesday afternoon I am chasing the top of the GMB union by the automotive bays in an try to ask him some very severe questions.
He appears aggravated by this scrutiny. He had left the TUC convention early by a aspect door in an obvious try to keep away from me and had began operating away from me as I approached him.
However there are severe questions hanging over him over how he runs his unions and the way that union treats the ladies who work for him – so I proceed to comply with him.
GMB has all the time denied there’s a tradition of bullying, misogyny and sexism, in reality way more staunchly than another organisation I’ve coated earlier than accused of the identical factor, and at the moment was no totally different.
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GMB chief Gary Smith. Pic: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA
Mr Smith advised me there was “no problem at all” inside the union, unwilling to confess there was any actual work to do and primarily saying – there’s nothing to see right here.
The issue is plenty of ladies have expressed considerations and say they really feel harassed on the union sufficient that the equalities watchdog is at the moment analyzing whether or not GMB is complying with the human rights act, and beforehand GMB members have threatened to strike in opposition to their very own union over allegations of sexism – a extremely uncommon transfer used solely when members wish to increase a severe problem.
I ask Mr Smith whether or not he takes this critically,
He says: “We’re a good organisation, we’re a cleaned up organisation, and we think the culture is pretty positive.”
I ask whether or not he believes the ladies who’re bravely talking out about their expertise., whether or not he thinks there’s any harassment or bullying in his organisation in any respect or lastly, if he wished to apologise or wished to say something to the ladies who expressed considerations.
He declined to talk to me any additional and I thanked him for his time.
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GMB has all the time denied there’s a tradition of bullying, misogyny and sexism
An ‘institutionally sexist’ union
The GMB union has had inner run-ins earlier than and has just lately had a horrible observe document with misogyny and sexism inside its ranks.
An inner report in 2020 branded the union “institutionally sexist” – a stain on their fame that was so dangerous, it compelled a change in management which noticed Mr Smith elected as president.
He made a declaration when he was appointed to the £148,000-a-year high job that “if our union doesn’t stand for decency and equality then we stand for nothing.”
It was a defining second for GMB as their new normal secretary, Mr Smith, was now pledging to finish sexism and bullying. He promised to implement the suggestions of that damning report, the Monaghan report, and mentioned he would work relentlessly to make it occur – “no ifs no buts”.
However since then, GMB ladies who we’ve spoken to say, it is solely obtained worse.
The whistle-blowers who spoke to us mentioned they have been talking out as a result of they held senior positions inside the organisation and mentioned if this was how they have been handled, they apprehensive what their junior staff must endure.
They are saying all their complaints have occurred since that 2020 report and that they’re submitting complaints from areas throughout the nation.
Then, in February 2024, members of its largest area supported a transfer in direction of industrial motion over “serious allegations of bullying and harassment”.
Workers within the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside area overwhelmingly supported a consultative poll on strike motion – which is normally used as a shot throughout the bow when members wish to increase a severe problem.
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GMB has all the time denied there’s a tradition of bullying, misogyny and sexism
Union ‘categorically denies’ bullying and sexism
Issues escalated this 12 months when the equalities watchdog took an energetic curiosity within the internal workings of GMB. Flooded with complaints from ladies, they have been guided to inquire into the senior management of GMB who declare there was a sample of victimisation and harassment in opposition to ladies who converse out.
They formally wrote to the GMB union asking for info on the way it’s complying with the Equality Act following allegations of sexual harassment, victimisation, and intercourse discrimination.
GMB has now written again to the Equality and Human Rights Fee (EHRC) who will look at their response.
I spoke to Anne, one of many ladies who submitted the collective formal criticism to the equalities watchdog, who mentioned she was bullied out of GMB by two senior males within the union. She lodged an inner criticism – that was then upheld.
GMB has mentioned it categorically denies claims of a tradition of bullying or sexism inside the union. The truth is, they’ve by no means considerably responded to claims of a renewed tradition of sexism and this was why after repeated requests for an interview I assumed it grew to become vital to ask Mr Smith himself what he made about these repeated allegations.
Had the union slipped again into its previous methods?
Main Labour donor – with ministerial members
This additionally issues as a result of the final secretary of GMB is politically important as a result of the union is a significant Labour donor with quite a few cupboard ministers, together with the prime minister holding membership.
Politically it’s seen as nearer to this Labour management than different massive unions since Sharon Graham’s Unite social gathering has remained very important of Sir Keir Starmer’s authorities over welfare cuts and the winter gas U-turn.
Sir Keir even gave the keynote speech on the GMB convention a 12 months earlier than the final normal election.
GMB nonetheless categorically denies claims of a tradition of bullying or sexism inside the union and say they responded to a 2020 Report – that discovered institutional sexism inside the union – by swiftly establishing new buildings and insurance policies to successfully cope with any allegation of bullying, sexism or harassment.
