Sexual harassment in the workplace

Recent TUC research found that over half of working women had experienced some form of sexual harassment, with two thirds of women aged 18-24, experiencing some form of sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment can relate to a range of different behaviours. It may be verbal or physical. It may take place in the workplace, online, by telephone or text, or at a work event such as a training course or a party. While the actual nature of the incident may vary, the common factor is that the incident involves unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile or humiliating working environment. 

The figures above are alarming, however for women working in a male dominated environment this can be so much more apparent.

The FBU need to be the leaders to ensure that all our Members act appropriately in accordance to Rule B3 (3) of our rule book which clearly states ‘it shall be the duty of every Member to treat others with dignity and respect and to challenge offensive behaviour of any kind’. 

We ask that the Executive Council, convey this message across the wider membership, through continued education and re-education, to define the FBU as the democratic professional voice of firefighters.