Around 40 general secretaries of British trade unions have today written to equalities minister Liz Truss to tackle the ‘shocking levels’ of workplace discrimination and harassment faced by the LGBT+ community.
The open letter – signed by general secretaries representing over five million union members – criticises the government for its “inaction” on tackling discrimination and harassment faced by LGBT+ people. The intervention follows the government’s recent decisions to scrap its LGBT Action Plan and to disband its LGBT Advisory Panel.
The union leaders say these moves have “dismayed” many in the LGBT+ community and sent out a worrying message to wider society. TUC evidence shows that:
- Nearly two in five LGBT+ workers have been harassed or discriminated against by a colleague.
- A quarter have been discriminated against by their manager; and around one in seven by a client or patient.
- Nearly half of all trans workers have experienced bullying or harassment at work.
- Seven in 10 LGBT workers have experienced sexual harassment at work.
CREATING SAFER WORKPLACES
The union leaders say ministers must urgently develop a new strategy in consultation with unions to make sure all workplaces are safe for LGBT people. They call on the government to introduce a new duty on employers to protect workers from harassment by customers and clients; and a specific duty to protect workers from sexual harassment.
Additionally, they want employment tribunals to have powers to make wider recommendations to employers “to root out systemic failings and cultures of bullying and harassment”. The letter also urges Liz Truss to swiftly recruit a new LGBT Advisory Panel with a clear mandate and trade union representation.
“Everybody deserves to be treated with dignity and to be safe at work. But many LGBT workers still experience shocking levels of discrimination and harassment in workplaces across the UK,” stated TUC General Secretary Frances O Grady. “Ministers must take a lead; and change the law so that employers have to protect their staff from homophobic and transphobic abuse by customers and clients. And they need to reconsider scrapping the LGBT Action Plan and LGBT Advisory Panel. The UK should be a world leader in LGBT rights.”
IMPROVING PROTECTION FOR LGBT+ STAFF
“We are coming together as a trade union movement to show our commitment and determination to counter LGBT+ prejudice in all its forms,” explained Equity General Secretary, and proud gay man, Paul Fleming. “The pragmatic, straightforward changes called for in this letter could make an immeasurable difference to LGBT+ people across the economy. And in so doing make the world of work a better place for all.”
The government must urgently “improve protections for LGBT+ workers so they can be their true selves – both at work and in wider society”, added Julia Georgiou, Chair of the National House Building Council Staff Association and a trans woman. “This letter isn’t about political point-scoring. It’s about getting ministers to recognise the bullying and harassment LGBT+ people face on a daily basis. Giving employment tribunals wider powers to protect employees from bullying and harassment will benefit not only LGBT+ employees. It will give much better protection for all employees in UK.”
LETTER TO EQUALITIES MINISTER
Dear Minister,
As Minister for Women and Equalities, we look to you to be a champion of equality, respect and safety in government. There are more than a million working people who are LGBT+ in the United Kingdom. We write to express our concern at government inaction to address the inequality experienced by LGBT+ people.
We were dismayed that you have jettisoned the 2018 LGBT Action Plan, which was based on evidence from more than 100,000 LGBT+ people. And we were disappointed at the decision to disband the LGBT Advisory Panel. Nearly two in five LGBT workers have been harassed or discriminated against by a colleague. A quarter have been discriminated against by their manager, and around one in seven by a client or patient. That rises to nearly half of all trans workers experiencing bullying or harassment at work. Seven in ten LGBT workers have experienced sexual harassment – and one in eight LBT women have experienced sexual assault or rape at work.
We urge you to consult with unions on a strategy to make sure workplaces are safe for all LGBT+ people. As a minimum, the government should introduce a new duty on employers to protect workers from harassment by customers and clients. It should also create a specific duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. And it should reinstate employment tribunals’ powers to make wider recommendations to employers, to root out systemic failings and cultures of bullying and harassment.
We call for the recruitment of a new LGBT Advisory Panel, with a clear mandate and trade union representation; we add our voices to those calling for an immediate ban on all forms of conversion therapy, and for a simplified, free, statutory gender-recognition process, based on self-declaration.
We look to the government not only to promote equality and eliminate discrimination against LGBT+ people but also to take a principled lead in building an inclusive culture in words and deeds that supports LGBT+ people’s safety, dignity and equality so that LGBT+ people can thrive and live authentically.
The UK can do better. Let’s lead the world in LGBT+ equality once again.
Yours sincerely.
LETTER SIGNATORIES
The letter has been signed by around 40 British trade unions including:
- Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC
- Christina McAnea, General Secretary, Unison
- Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite
- Gary Smith, General Secretary, GMB
- Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, NEU
- Paddy Lillis, General Secretary, USDAW
- Patrick Roach, General Secretary, NASUWT
- Dave Ward, General Secretary, CWU
- Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS
- Mike Clancy, General Secretary, Prospect
- Jo Grady, General Secretary, UCU
- Michael Lynch, General Secretary, RMT
- Larry Flanagan, General Secretary, EIS
- Paul W Fleming, General Secretary, Equity
- Claire Sullivan, Director of Employment Relations and Union Services, CSP
- Jon Skewes, Executive Director, RCM
- Matt Wrack, General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union
- Michelle Stanistreet, General Secretary, NUJ
- Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary, Community
- Horace Trubridge, General Secretary, MU
- Nicola Hubert, General Secretary, POA
- Paul Whiteman, General Secretary, NAHT
- Ged Nichols, General Secretary, Accord
- Mick Whelan, General Secretary, ASLEF
- Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA
- Dave Penman, General Secretary, FDA
- Sarah Woolley, General Secretary, BFAWU
- Mark Dickinson, General Secretary, Nautilus International
- Tim Rose, General Secretary, Nationwide Group Staff Union
- Steve Jamieson, General Secretary, Royal College of Podiatry
- Andy Burman, General Secretary, BDA
- Zita Holbourne, Joint National Chair, Artists’ Union England
- Ian Lawrence, General Secretary, NAPO
- Brian Linn, General Secretary, Aegis the Union
- Paul Donaldson, General Secretary, HCSA
- Sam Aitkenhead, General Secretary, British Orthoptic Society
- Michele Gregson, General Secretary, NSEAD
STUCK IN THE CLOSET
Recent research in the US reveals that over 90% of the Fortune 500’s boardrooms are still ‘stuck in the closet’ when it comes to empowering LGBTQ+ leaders and creating equal opportunities. Click here to read more.
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