Exclusive: staff accuse Unite of ‘union-busting tactics’ in dispute vs gen sec’s husband

Union under Graham promoted husband Clarke to manage unit despite final warning for bullying – now Unite has suspended staff accusing him and members of his management team of bullying

GMB union members working in Unite’s ‘National Bargaining and Disputes Support Unit’ (BDSU) scheduled to strike next week over alleged ‘bullying and victimisation’ by the unit’s management have been suspended from work by the union.

The unit is run by Sharon Graham’s husband Jack Clarke, who was on a final warning from the union for his conduct and was promoted to the position, outside the union’s normal procedures, after Graham took over in 2021.

Ms Graham allegedly asked union staff to destroy evidence of serious complaints against him from staff, particularly women, working under him. Staff had submitted recordings and transcripts of his bullying behaviour to the union. The union has accused Skwawkbox of ‘peddling lies’ and of political motivations for its revelations, but has not denied the accusations.

Skwawkbox has been able to confirm that Mr Clarke is one of the subjects of the current staff complaints and dispute.

Strike action was declared from Tuesday 3 December to Friday 6 December after workers accused Unite of ignoring their complaints that some managers in the BDSU bullied staff and victimised those who spoke out. Unite failed to suspend any of the managers accused of bullying but has suspended all the staff who entered a collective grievance and industrial dispute to challenge the bullying behaviours they experienced.

Previously, Unite suspended two members the day after the collective grievance was raised.

Danny Adilypour, GMB London Regional Organiser, said:

It frankly beggars belief that Unite, as a trade union employer, suspended these employees from work the week before this strike action is due to take place. We believe this is a blatant attempt to undermine a legitimate industrial action ballot.

We are also concerned that these suspensions appear to have been targeted at GMB members for raising legitimate industrial concerns and may constitute unlawful discrimination against these members because of their trade union activities.

This is the latest in a series of attempted union-busting tactics we have encountered in this dispute – from a surge of new members from this department joining the GMB only to attempt to undermine an industrial dispute, to inaccurate statements about our members being briefed anonymously to the press.

These are smoke and mirror tactics to distract from the matter at the heart of this dispute. Nine collective grievance signatories, former female members of staff, and staff members in other departments have all made credible allegations that our members in the BDSU have experienced bullying and victimisation.

We believe that Unite has failed to properly investigate these allegations and has chosen to cover up for bullying managers rather than deal with a toxic workplace culture. All those who have complained of being bullied are now suspended, whilst the managers continue to operate with impunity.

GMB stands in full solidarity with these members and will always support any of our members who challenge bullying in their workplaces, regardless of who their employer is.

This dispute is still resolvable and GMB remain willing to enter talks at any time that Unite is willing to reciprocate.”

Unite has been contacted for comment.

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