Our union tackling misogyny

Conference has been shaken by the high-profile incidents involving male violence against women in recent times. Conference remembers the victims; Sarah Henshaw, Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry to name a few, there are countless more. On average, a woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK.

Conference is shocked at the involvement and aspects of response of the police in these tragic incidents. An apparent misogynistic culture within police forces is now rightly being interrogated. Some claim that these are a few ‘bad apples’, however we exist in a society which contains misogyny so it is not surprising that these cultures would also be present in large traditionally male dominated organisations.

The GMB’s independent investigation into sexual harassment within their union shone a light onto institutional sexism within the trade union movement. We cannot ignore this staggering issue.

Toxic misogynistic behaviours are also familiar to us as workers in Fire and Rescue Services. Jokes about rape and domestic violence are not uncommon, although perpetrated by a small minority. Colleagues and ex-colleagues of ours have also been convicted of these crimes.

The upholding of misogynistic cultures has also been demonstrated within our Union both historically and recently. Female Members have been treated in shameful ways, by fellow Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Members including Officials.

Conference must stand together to create safe workplaces for women. Conference instructs the Executive Council to;

• support the campaign to make misogyny a hate crime
• publicly condemn misogynistic behaviours seen in our workplaces and the wider world
• encourage Members to challenge and report instances of misogyny or sexism in the workplace, home or elsewhere
• be vocal to employers on what constitutes misogynistic behaviour, where it exists in our workplaces, how it must be quashed and how victims must be heard and supported to justice
• introduce mandatory sexual harassment training for all FBU Officials.