Sexual harassment in workplace to be confronted in Liverpool

Workers, trade unionists and campaigners against sexual harassment at work will gather tomorrow, 26 June 2026, at the offices of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Bootle. Liverpool legend Audrey White is famous for giving a frozen Keir Starmer a substantial piece of her mind in a Liverpool restaurant. But she is also the subject of the film Business as Usual, in which she was portrayed by Oscar-winner Glenda Jackson in her fight against sexual harassment and discrimination. She told Skwawkbox:

I fought sexual harassment against my staff in Lady at Lord John fashion store in the 80’s. I was sacked. Even then, when we didn’t even have a word for it , the movement recognised that workers shouldn’t have to tolerate this threat to their health and wellbeing . Activists and my union fought for me to get my job back and have sexual harassment recognised.
It is as bad, if not worse today, than it was then. It must become a reportable incident as is every other threat to worker’s health.

Sexual harassment in the workplace can no longer be tolerated. It can happen to anyone . It’s insidious it , it’s an attack on our class. It’s a health and safety issue. It’s only by joining forces that we can put an end to it.

The ‘End not Defend’ organisers are asking supporters to join them from 11am at HSE, Merton Road L20 7HS. Their announcement reads:

We call on workers and trade unionists to protest outside Health and Safety Executive over failure to recognise workplace sexual harassment as a reportable safety incident

Fight against sexism harassment in the workplace- join us in Bootle Merton Road at 11 am this Friday at the offices of the Health and Safety Executive. If we are ever to put a stop to sexual harassment it must be taken seriously . It must be made a reportable offence just like other health and safety issues. I understand how damaging it is.

Evidence continues to show that millions of workers experience sexual harassment at work each year, yet incidents remain largely invisible within the workplace health and safety system because they are not reported.

While employers are required to report serious physical injuries and dangerous workplace incidents, there is no equivalent requirement to report sexual harassment, despite the significant impact it can have on workers’ mental and physical health.

Bakers’ union president Ian Hodson added:

Workers can suffer trauma, anxiety, depression, loss of confidence and be driven out of work altogether because of sexual harassment. Yet the system largely treats these experiences as invisible.

A broken arm at work is reportable. A dangerous occurrence is reportable. Sexual harassment that damages a worker’s health and wellbeing is not.

That cannot be right.

If sexual harassment is a workplace hazard – and it is – then employers should be required to report it. What gets measured gets managed. If it’s not reported, it’s not regulated.