Eslamdoust appoints defender of disgraced Cortes defender as AGS

TSSA rail union general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust‘s deeply problematic tenure at TSSA continues with intense criticism by insiders for her hypocrisy over sexual assault and harassment in the union. Eslamdoust issued a statement just last week welcoming the rape and sexual assault convictions of celebrity Russell Brand:

Following the Russell Brand verdict, our union stands in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence and harassment. Everyone deserves to live and work with dignity, safety and respect, free from harassment, intimidation and abuse.

The verdict comes at a significant time for workers’ rights. From 30 October 2026, strengthened legislation places greater responsibilities on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, rather than simply responding after incidents occur.

Employers must take these duties seriously by creating safe workplaces, addressing risks and ensuring workers can raise concerns without fear of victimisation.

As a union, we will engage with members to explore how safety, dignity and the prevention of sexual harassment can be better embedded across our facilities and workplaces. We will also work to ensure employers fully understand and meet their strengthened legal responsibilities and duty of care.Dignity at work is a fundamental right. Sexual harassment has no place in any workplace.

Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA General Secretary

Outrage

The statement has triggered outrage among TSSA ‘Me TU’anti-abuse activists, especially as she has just appointed an ally and defender of former TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes, who was dismissed along with a number of his senior team over sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination, as assistant general secretary. One told Skwawkbox:

[Newly-appointed AGS and until recently TSSA’s head of legal and governance] Paul Atkinson was the rep for Cortes and Chester when they were dismissed for sexual harassment following the Kennedy Report.

He told a GMB rep that Cortes is a red blooded man with needs and all a woman needed to do was say no. Now Maryam has handed him AGS.

I wonder how she squares that position with her statement about Brand?

It also shows pretty clearly that Cortes is still 100% in control of the union, and is carrying out his threat to destroy it.

The executive are due to meet to vote on suspending Maryam next week. No wonder she made this rapid appointment.

That meeting is taking place today and tomorrow.

Woeful tenure

Eslamdoust’s tenure at TSSA, since her leveraged appointment as general secretary, has appalled staff, officials and members so deeply that numerous votes have been passed for her removal, usually unanimously.

From allegations of conference-rigging that prevented votes to hold her accountable, to suspending candidates to rig elections, to allegedly crossing a staff picket line, to giving awards and cash to staff disgraced in the sexual harassment scandal, to de-recognising the union of staff disgusted with her treatment of union workers and publicly attacking their union for standing with them, Eslamdoust has – in the words of one victimised former AGS – trashed TSSA’s reputation.

And she has been repeatedly accused of perpetuating the harassment and bullying culture at the union, rather than ending it – leading to unanimous strike votes – and of using spurious allegations against rivals as a pretext to suspend them, particularly election candidates more popular than her allies.

The latest farce will only amplify those complaints.