Campaigns

[ch 3: pages 28-29]

If planning to run a sexual harassment awareness campaign, reps need to think carefully and be clear about what they want to achieve. A campaign could be about targeting those who carry out sexual harassment, or focus on members experiencing sexual harassment, or concentrate on sending out a broad message to everyone.

Public services union UNISON has issued a guide, Harassment at work, which advises branches to consider:

• organising a confidential survey of the workplace or branch on the extent of harassment;

• organising meetings on the issue;

• raising awareness through posters and leaflets;

• ensuring awareness is incorporated in appropriate training;

• using a health and safety risk assessment approach to tackle harassment in the workplace;

• encouraging members to keep written records of all harassment incidents;

• informing employers in writing that incidents are occurring. This must be done in a general way if a member has raised the issue in confidence;

• including articles on harassment and bullying in branch magazines and newsletters;

• ensuring all branch representatives have been trained in dealing with harassment cases.