'Safeguarding failures' allow abusers to go unchecked at work, women warn

"It is a failure in safeguarding on the part of employers, which makes all members – particularly our women and intersectional members – vulnerable," the motion said, and called on the council to set up a working group to work with the committee to "identify and implement appropriate action". The committee stressed the issue could impact members of any gender.

The motion said that members needed to know who was "going to be in the room prior to the start of an engagement" and for it to be "easier for employers to release abusers from employment".

Jean Rogers, also from the Women’s Committee, seconded the motion, and said female members had been "totally unaware of who they would be face to face with" at work, meaning they had sometimes been "confronted with previous abusers".

She said members’ well-being had to be protected, while Rona Hampton, from the Northern Ireland branch, said it was a "no brainer" to support the motion.

"I am tired of being told they’re just a "bit handsy" or if you ignore it, they will go away. We have the right to work and be on that set or [in that] rehearsal room," she said, adding that it was the "sexual aggressor [who] should not be in the room”.

Equity member Rachel Flynn, addressing the motion, revealed she was a "survivor of sexual assault".

"I have endured the occurrence of being blindsided by someone who harassed me in the past," she said, adding that sharing cast and creative lists in advance would allow "victims to make a choice about their involvement".

While she said "progress needs to be made", she said the union must engage with the "legal system", highlighting how employers are not required to release people from contracts.

The motion was passed.