Royal Mail women at work – no to harassment
Postal June 17 2021Branch rallies behind postwoman who spoke out against street harassment…
“I have a laugh and a joke like everyone else – but out on delivery we have a job to do and harassment in the street is not fun for us thank you!” says Sascha Byrne, who recently spoke out on social platforms about being rudely pestered while carrying out her daily duties.
With thousands of ‘likes’ on Facebook and Instagram and comments from others with similar experiences, Sascha Byrne believes that she may have spoken for many of her colleagues when she wrote about the low-level street bullying she faces.
A member of our union’s Southeast No5 Branch, she has worked out of Reigate Delivery Office in Surrey for just over two years now and, when an artist she admires asked for personal tales from frontline essential workers, Sascha decided to write about her own working day.
“She’s an artist called Eliza Hatch and I’ve followed her for a while,” she explains, adding: “When she asked for our everyday stories, I wanted to make my point about this and how it makes me feel.”
In her Instagram post, Sascha wrote of being ‘catcalled and shouted at most days of my working week’ and that, earlier this year she had ‘got to the point where I was having to fight off panic attacks’ and of feeling ‘my gut twist as work vans passed me, anticipating the shouts, leers and invasive comments about my body’.
Inappropriate remarks made to her on her delivery round by a ‘middle-aged man who was parked in the driveway of a house I was delivering to’ made her feel ‘embarrassed and uncomfortable’ and wanting to ‘avoid that house’.
Speaking to CWU News, Sascha said that she had been pleased by the responses, and that other women – postwomen and other female workers – had shared similar experiences of their own.
“We all know the types of things that get said – but I really don’t think the men making these comments have any idea of the effect it has,” Sascha continues. “I think they really seem to think they’re just being ‘funny’ or even giving a ‘compliment’.
“Well, I like a laugh and a joke the same as anyone else, but I’m busy working, delivering to my customers and under pressure as well and being yelled at, whistled at, told what someone might want to do etc – guys, that isn’t ‘funny’ for me, it’s horrible.
“And please don’t think if someone smiles it means they enjoy the hassle – I put on a smile even though it’s the last thing I feel like doing, just because I feel it’s the only way to get through it, or feeling fear, intimidated.”
Sascha’s branch secretary Andy Moorey tells CWU News that “this is an extremely important issue and it’s good that Sascha has spoken out so publicly about it.
“We should all reflect on how this kind of behaviour impacts on our fellow citizens and challenge it when and where we see it, as well as supporting our members who experience this – which ranges in seriousness from low-level pestering to actual threats and abuse.
“Firstly, it needs to be reported – to unit reps and to managers – and appropriate actions need to be taken by the business, along with the necessary support for the member concerned.
“We’re actually seeking nominations at this time for a new Southeast No5 Branch Women’s Officer – a post which is currently vacant – and this is an issue which is going to be high up on our branch’s agenda.
“In the meantime, we will maintain contact with Sascha and with the support of our rep at the Reigate office as well as with the company to help address this specific issue as a matter of urgency.
“All of us need to all stand together as a union and say clearly: ‘No to Harassment’.”
CWU Outdoor secretary Mark Baulch also praised Sascha’s “bravery and for standing up and speaking out and sharing her experience – which takes enormous courage.
“It’s really sad and upsetting that in this day and age, this type of behaviour is still prevalent within society,” Mark continued.
“Our members carry out a truly fantastic and worthwhile job by serving the UK public and it is not acceptable that women are treated in this way and our female members should not be subjected to and have to face this at all.
“It is not acceptable on any level and is blatant harassment.”
Reiterating the advice from the Southeast No5 Branch secretary, Mark added: “As Andy has advised, if you are unfortunate and experience similar unacceptable examples, please report this to your mangers and reps locally and we will aim to ensure that the appropriate actions and support is provided.
“We will also raise any cases nationally with the appropriate senior management teams where the right support and appropriate measures have not been taken.”
Sascha’s initial Facebook and Instagram posts here: https://www.facebook.com/cheerupluv/photos/a.1016719795157370/1963798367116170/?type=3.\
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP4_gwGnZfQ/?utm_medium=copy_link
A further article on the subject:
https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/street-harassment-summer/