SAFE AT HOME, SAFE AT WORK

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2017 :: RMTnews 20 RMT recently sent delegates to a European TUC conference in Madrid to launch a campaign to eliminate workplace harassment and violence against women. Kathy Mazur and Michelle Rodgers from the National Executive Committee attended the “Safe at home, Safe at work which set out a common strategy to deal with the issue. “We have come back from the conference determined to do all we can within the union to end violence against women. “We have heard harrowing stories from many countries about both domestic violence and violence against women at work, but it is very much a problem here in the UK and we must play our part in raising awareness about this issue,” said Kathy and Michelle. Conference was told that one in four women will experience abuse but women will be assaulted as much as 35 times before seeking help and it was the biggest killer of women aged 19 to 44. Violence against women at work can take many forms; at work the most common is sexual harassment. A study on violence against women by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) found that 55 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment at least once in their lives. A survey poll of 1,533 women in Great Britain carried out by the TUC found that the impact of harassment is devastating for victims, and is bad for productivity and workforce morale. More than half of all women and nearly two-thirds of women aged 18 to 24 said they have experienced sexual harassment at work including sexual jokes, sexual advances, unwanted touching. It is an issue for trade unions because domestic violence leads to problems at work. Non- attendance is a common problem, with the real reason never being told until the individual is at the point of losing their job. Sometimes the victim’s partners will be employed at the same company and speaking out is not an option. Over 75 per cent of domestic abuse victims are targeted at work, 56 per cent arrive late for work at least five times a month and 28 per cent leave work early. It is also a health and safety issue and employers have a legal responsibility in promoting the welfare and safety of all staff. It is important that the issue is not ignored in the workplace but understood as a serious recognisable and preventable issue. Domestic violence, whether occurring at the actual place of work, on the way to or from work, can take on multiple forms including bullying, sexual RMT backs campaign to prevent and eliminate workplace harassment and violence against women SAFE AT HOME, SAFE AT WORK Kathy Mazur and Michelle Rodgers