Sexual harassment is not confined to the workplace: it exists in the trade union movement, a delegate told the SIPTU biennial conference in Ennis yesterday. Ms Elaine Harvey from Galway cited unacceptable behaviour by male colleagues at social gatherings following union conferences, including objectionable statements, inappropriate touching and lewd jokes, all aimed at female delegates.
"Going up to her [a female delegate at the bar after a conference] playing with her necklace and saying, `If I said I'd like to go to bed with you, would that be sexual harassment?'. The answer is yes, it is sexual harassment," she said.
Her speech came at the end of a long day, where there had been major debates on issues such as trade union recognition and tax reform. The predominantly male audience was beginning to drift away as motions on equality and sexual harassment were being taken. These who did missed the most vital debate of the whole conference.
It began with Ms Kay Garvey of the Dublin regional executive pointing out that there were eight grades of employees in SIPTU, ranging from cleaners to general president, but of 21 officials in the top grades not one was a woman.
She said there was a "quiet seething anger among women members and staff that can no longer be ignored".
But it was in the debate on sexual harassment that it showed itself most. When Ms Margaret Neilus from Derry proposed the motion she was almost apologetic at raising something that was already union policy. But the time had come to put it into practice.
"I have only recently become active in SIPTU. At two formally organised union-wide events this year I witnessed delegates being subjected to blatant and obvious sexual harassment. I am confident that every woman in this room and hopefully every man will agree this is unacceptable and must not be tolerated."
Last night SIPTU's national equality officer, Ms Noirin Greene, said she was shocked at the allegations. SIPTU was to the fore in promoting policies of equal employment to outlaw sexual harassment and bullying.