Excl: Unite staff hold strike ballot over ‘bullying and victimisation’ in unit run by Graham’s husband

Graham regime accused of ignoring grievances in unit run by her husband, who was on final warning for bullying until she promoted him despite him being recorded by abused staff

The GMB Union is balloting its members who working at the Unite union for strike action over the failures or refusal of Sharon Graham’s Unite regime to address accusations of bullying and victimisation against union management. The unit is run by Ms Graham’s husband, Jack Clarke – a role to which he was allegedly promoted by her outside the union’s usual procedures, despite being on a final warning for his behaviour.

The balloted staff work in Unite’s ‘National Bargaining and Disputes Support Unit’ (BDSU) and say that the union has failed to address concerns or take any action against the accused managers. Several GMB members involved in a collective grievance regarding these issues have also had disciplinary proceedings started against them since their grievance was raised, creating real concerns that they are being victimised for exposing the alleged bullying behaviour of Unite BDSU managers. The union says that no meaningful action has been taken by Unite to address these concerns.

GMB London Regional Organiser Danny Adilypour said:

GMB members in Unite’s National Bargaining and Disputes Support Unit are proud trade unionists who have worked loyally for Unite, supporting Unite members in disputes against rogue employers.

They deserve better than to be bullied by their own managers and then ignored by Unite when they raise a genuine collective grievance regarding this treatment.

It is deeply disappointing that there has been no effort to address their grievance or resolve this dispute.

Needless to say, we won’t end this dispute until the members involved feel their concerns have been addressed. Unite’s failure to take the action required to address the bullying and victimisation of their employees and suspend the BDSU managers accused of such behaviour while these allegations are investigated has led to this strike ballot being called.

Any strike action can still be avoided if Unite management get around the table and agree meaningful action to end this dispute. We again call on them to do this and are ready to meet with them to resolve this at any time.

Ms Graham has been the subject of a string of serious allegations – which neither she nor the union has ever denied – relating to her husband and of failing to protect women. Most seriously, she has been accused of attempting to have evidence destroyed in bullying and misogyny complaints about her husband, whose behaviour was recorded by staff who submitted a formal complaint to the union about bullying and threats.

When challenged over these allegations, Graham’s spokespeople and supporters have frequently resorted to claims that Skwawkbox has raised these issues to protect supposed wrongdoers from scrutiny over the conference centre project, rather than address the allegations directly.

Unite has been asked for comment on the GMB ballot about the department run by Sharon Graham’s husband. The GMB ballot of BDSU staff closes 18 November.

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