GMB congress takes place Sunday 9 June until Wednesday 11 June. Hundreds of workplace reps will be meeting to discuss motions and debate policy.

However, a dark cloud lies over this congress because of the very real problem with institutional sexism, bullying and harassment. Women officers are being driven out their jobs, a general secretary who wastes members’ valuable money on protecting bullies and now a prominent woman regional president has been expelled.

In a fantastic display of solidarity, GMB delegates from the North East and Yorkshire region walked out in disgust during the general secretary’s address to congress.

In addition, a letter was circulated to delegates from the ‘friends of Tahir Bhatti’ campaign. Tahir, a regional organiser for the GMB in London faced racism and islamaphobia before being unfairly dismissed on spurious grounds.

Read our message to delegates below.

Dear GMB delegate, 

#MeTU wishes all delegates a successful GMB congress 2024.

But we also place demands on you. 

Since the Karon Monaghan report, which is now four years old, nothing has changed. #MeTU, in collaboration with the Reel News film collective, have exposed the deep rottenness existing in your union – it’s your turn to do something about it. 

• Women officers are being bullied and driven out of their jobs, including the youngest ever female regional secretary, on spurious trumped up charges after raising serious sexual harassment and bullying complaints. No one believes the GMB bully’s version that she is a perpetrator. It is simply untrue. 
• Another KC led report from 2023 in Brighton and Hove, The McColgan report, details evidence of GMB officers and stewards using bullying, misogyny, sexual harassment and racism to maintain power in that branch. To date, there has been no public apology for the harms caused to workers there, or any sign of a promised investigation. 
• Staff have been forced to ballot for strike action because of the toxic climate. 
• GMB wastes valuable members’ money on expensive lawyers and NDAs to protect bullies. 
• The general secretary bullies staff and breaks employment law.
• And now a prominent female GMB regional president has been expelled.

We say ‘enough is enough’ and we salute the courageous sisters taking the #MeTU message to congress. We call on all delegates committed to fighting discrimination to support these sisters and make yourself visible. This can’t just be left to us, we need our brothers to be allies at this crucial time. 

For those of you keeping your heads down, consider the future. We are half the workplace. If this trend continues we will not have a trade union movement fit for purpose before long. 

Use this opportunity to join us in our mission – to reclaim our unions and to return to the age old adage of – an injury to one, is an injury to all. 

For those carrying out the bullying – we are here, we are growing, and we aren’t going anywhere until transformative justice and change occurs in our trade unions. 

#MeTU

If you are affected by any of the issues above, please get in touch. We are a safe space for survivors, as well as taking action for transformative change and justice in our trade unions. Join us on our mission today email: metuwomen@gmail.com