GMB union facing institutional sexism and bullying complaint

21 January 2025, 16:29 | Updated: 22 January 2025, 08:20

Former staffers and members of the GMB union have launched an official complaint to the equalities watchdog this week over allegations of institutional sexism and bullying, Sky News understands.

In the complaint, which Sky News has seen, the women allege that there is a "pattern of victimisation and harassment against women who speak out" about wrongdoing inside the Labour-backed union. They argue it could be a breach of GMB's duties under the Equality Act.

GMB has struggled with these issues before. Four years ago, a damning report written by Karon Monaghan KC branded the union 'institutionally sexist' and, according to a number of women complaining to the EHRC this week, they insist the union hasn't changed.

In Ms Monaghan's initial report she described "bullying, misogyny, cronyism and sexual harassment" being rife inside the union and described the culture in GMB as "heavy drinking and late-night socialising, salacious gossip and a lack of professionalism".

Last year, members in the Yorkshire and Humber region balloted to strike over complaints of bullying and harassment which have been staved off following the union's concession to invite Ms Monaghan back inside the union to investigate.

But now, a group of around a dozen former and current GMB staff have written to the equalities watchdog to demand an external investigation.

One of those women, Cath Pinder, a former regional president in the GMB North East, said: "They cannot be allowed to police themselves. It's really difficult to put your head above the parapet but when multiple people do it it shows an institutional problem."

GMB represents about 630,000 workers in the UK and is one of the Labour party's major funders which makes the union's general secretary, Gary Smith, politically significant.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gave the keynote speech at the GMB conference a year before the last general election and numerous cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are members.

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GMB - which donates more than £1m to Labour every year - categorically denies claims of a culture of bullying or sexism within the union, and say Ms Pinder's suspension was justified.

They say the union responded to the Karon Monaghan report and now have clear, comprehensive and transparent procedures to fully investigate and effectively deal with any allegation of bullying, sexism or harassment.

A GMB spokesperson said: "Such behaviour has no place in GMB and is not tolerated under any circumstances. We do not use non-disclosure agreements and staff leaving the organisation are asked to sign standard settlement agreements, similar to those used by virtually every organisation across the public and private sectors."

For a union that prides itself on representing staff bullied or harassed in their own workplace, these women say they hope for that for GMB too - but they will have to take on their own union now to do it.

(c) Sky News 2025: GMB union facing institutional sexism and bullying complaint