The FDA has too often been a lone voice defending civil servants and the start to 2020 is proving no different. General Secretary Dave Penman explains why he will never stop speaking out on behalf of members, and why all public servants deserve to be treated with respect.

This HeartUnions Week, we’re joining the TUC’s call to end harassment at work and celebrating the work of FDA rep Djuna Thurley, who has played a leading role in campaigning for an independent bullying and harassment policy in the House of Commons.

Marking a year since Dame Laura Cox published her report into the Bullying and Harassment of House of Commons staff, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman calls for all candidates to be Speaker to “confront the vested interests that created the problem in the first place".

The scrapping of the cut-off date for historical complaints is an important first step. However, the House still needs a fully independent complaints process, says General Secretary Dave Penman.

“The decision on historical cases is, however, only one of the two key recommendations made in the Dame Laura Cox report," states FDA General Secretary Dave Penman.

"Three independent reports have painted a picture of routine bullying and harassment, making similar recommendations. There is no more evidence to gather. Now it is time for action," writes General Secretary Dave Penman in his Times Red Box column.

Assistant General Secretary Amy Leversidge looks at what has changed since Newsnight ran its "devastating" investigation in March, 2018.

In her latest article for the House Magazine, FDA Assistant General Secretary Amy Leversidge raises concerns that “nothing has changed” in the five months following Dame Laura Cox's damning report on bullying and harassment in the House of Commons.

Five months since Dame Laura Cox published her report on bullying and harassment in the House of Commons, staff are frustrated at the lack of progress, FDA Amy Leversidge writes in the House Magazine.

FDA Assistant General Secretary Amy Leversidge responds to the Fawcett Society’s report, Sexual Harassment in Parliament: Protecting MPs, Peers, volunteers and staff.

Civil service union the FDA called for the case to be reopened. General secretary Dave Penman insisted the fall of the case was down to a “flaw” in the way it was conducted.

"We believe the Committee could and should have gone further creating full independence of decision making immediately.," says Assistant General Secretary Amy Leversidge.

FDA Assistant General Secretary Amy Leversidge responds to the announcement that Gemma White QC has been appointed to conduct an independent inquiry into the bullying and harassment of MPs’ parliamentary staff.

“Parliament can’t have any authority or credibility talking about sexual harassment in other workplaces if it doesn’t get its own house in order," says Assistant General Secretary Amy Leversidge.

On 24 October, the Commission voted to implement the recommendations from Dame Laura report, and expressed regret that it had taken “so long for us recognise what must be done”.

The FDA said it was the "first step to ending the toxic culture of deference and silence that has allowed bullying, harassment and sexual harassment to thrive".

On 24 October, the Commission voted to implement the recommendations from Dame Laura report.

Assistant General Secretary of the FDA Amy Leversidge discusses Universal Credit and fighting bullying and harassment in Westminster on the Politics Home podcast.

Unions representing members across the economy have backed the FDA’s calls for a fully independent process to investigate bullying and harassment complaints in Parliament and the wider public sector.

The FDA has condemned the behaviour of former First Minister Alex Salmond, following his string of personal attacks against Scottish Government Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans.