GMB union is riddled with misogyny, ex-activist says

GMB must release former female staff members from confidentiality clauses that prevent them speaking publicly about their treatment, a former regional president of the trade union has said.

- Rowena Mason

Cath Pinder, who was suspended from the union for failing to respond to an email and subsequently expelled earlier this year, said she "feels the GMB is riddled with misogyny and cronyism" and that the union was "failing its members".

Pinder said she was speaking out after allegations in the media last week from former GMB staff who accused the union of not dealing with the institutional sexism and bullying of women that was first identified in a report by Karon Monaghan KC in 2020.

A group of former and current GMB staff are writing to the equalities watchdog to demand an investigation into the union, which is one of the Labour party's major funders and represents about 630,000 workers in the UK.

In an interview with the Guardian, Pinder said an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) would be the best way forward. "If GMB, Barbara Plant, the president, and Gary Smith, the general secretary, have nothing to hide then there is nothing to fear from any such investigation.