Union rep and member training

Union training for reps and members is also important. The UCU university and college union runs a one-day reps’ course covering the law; the union’s women’s sexual harassment survey; harassing and sexually harassing behaviour, impact, and barriers; policies and procedures for dealing with harassment; handling harassment cases; challenging harassment in the workplace; involving members; and organising around equality.

It is aimed at branch reps and activists who may be dealing with individual harassment or sexual harassment cases or negotiating around policies that protect members, and those who wish to challenge harassment, in particular sexual harassment more broadly in the workplace.

The PCS public and commercial services union’s sexual harassment training focuses on topics including why this is an important trade union issue, the law on harassment, how the union can support members affected, and how it can develop workplace policies and practices. Members can also learn how to promote the role of PCS “harassment champion”. Reps who attend the course can then deliver a “bite-sized” one-hour version of the session in their workplace to fellow reps and members.

“Harassment champions” are reps who have attended this training and feel confident in providing sign-posting tips for where to seek help and assistance. This would include, but is not limited to, displaying posters about sexual harassment with their contact details so members could reach out in confidence, with the aim of raising visibility of the support available.