SEXUAL harassment remains an endemic problem in Britain’s workplaces, Unison warned today.

The union called on the TUC women’s conference to support those challenging such behaviour and back policies and campaigns to uphold women’s right to respect and dignity at work.

Unison’s Josie Bird noted that the MeToo campaign had stimulated debate on sexual harassment, but she said all women needed to be encouraged and empowered.

“Anyone can experience sexual harassment, regardless of gender, age or appearance. But overwhelmingly it is committed by men against women,” Ms Bird said.

“Sexual harassment is about power. It’s not acceptable that anyone should have to put up with unwanted touching or occasionally threats.

“As trade unions, we should lead the way in challenging sexual harassment in the workplace.”

The TUC previously has reported that four out of five women who experience sexual harassment at work do not report it to their employer for fear that doing so will harm their working relationships or career prospects.

More than half of all women and nearly two-thirds of women aged 18 to 24 have experienced sexual harassment at work, according to TUC figures.

Negative attitudes towards women and girls can begin before school age and continue throughout education, a National Education Union (NEU) report has found.

The NEU’s Merike Williams argued that, as youngsters look to their parents to show them how to behave, “if we take a stand, so will our children.”

She said: “We have a duty to not just educate children but to give them the confidence, support and lifelong skills needed to challenge sexual harassment.

“Teaching children about sex and relationships is key.”