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.