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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Wondering how to make a complaint about the "equalities officer" for UNITE in Brighton...

56 replies

BjornTheFellHanded · 30/10/2024 14:46

https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1gecsvp/how_can_trade_unions_help_trans_people_in_the_uk/

"How can trade unions help trans people in the uk?

Hey! I’m the equalities officer for my branch of UNITE the union in Brighton. I want to ask the trans community what we can do as a union to help trans people more.
• We’ve had a presence at trans pride both in the parade and also with a stall to give out materials about trans rights at work.
• I’m currently writing a letter to Wes Streeting challenging the puberty blockers ban and the awful state of trans healthcare.
• We’ve worked with other local groups such as Trans Liberation Front (TLF) to mobilise an effective counter protest to Posie Parker and other transphobic events in our city.
• I’m passing a motion to donate £200 to Trans Kids Deserve Better following their recent protests outside of the DfE and the LGB Alliance conference.
• We ran a successful event for IDAHOBIT where I gave a speech about the need to challenge the rise of the far right and anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
Any suggestions or advice on what more we can do would be really appreciated! 🏳️‍⚧️🚩
"

Just to be clear this means that UNITE are paying for crimes, paying to shut down debate and not allowing differing points of view, not what an equalities officer should be doing.

OP posts:
larklane17 · 30/10/2024 18:23

Just to add. The Equalities Officer should only be operating within existing Union policy.

There are a couple of things in the OP that strike me as being potentially outside of the Officer's brief. Her/his role should be Branch member led, and in accordance with National policy. They just can't make up stuff on the hoof. So for starters.

• I’m currently writing a letter to Wes Streeting challenging the puberty blockers ban and the awful state of trans healthcare

I don't think this is National/ Regional/ Branch/policy is it? Has the Branch debated and agreed to this being done? I doubt that the membership are aware of it.

• I’m passing a motion to donate £200 to Trans Kids Deserve Better following their recent protests outside of the DfE and the LGB Alliance conference.

Individuals don't pass motions, even if a Union Officer. It's a collective decision by the Branch members. The Officer can draft a motion, but it needs proposing and seconding, then putting before a Branch meeting. It needs debating and then to be voted upon. Individuals can't decide to send Members money willy nilly to organisations that the Union has not voted to endorse. Have a word with the Branch or Regional Treasurer on this.

• We’ve worked with other local groups such as Trans Liberation Front (TLF) to mobilise an effective counter protest to Posie Parker and other transphobic events in our city.
As above. Have the Members agreed to this?

Union Officers should work within their brief and according to existing policy or as mandated by Members according to union policy. They can't go maverick and make it up as they go along.

Copy that directly to Sharon Graham with your comments as an official complaint. She will know exactly what is acceptable and what isn't. She's no fool. It would appear that the Equalities Officer is off on a frolic of her/his own.

larklane17 · 30/10/2024 15:54

Are you a member of UNITE?
https://www.unitetheunion.org/member-complaints

Or write directly to the Gen Sec Sharon Graham.

All complaints should be submitted in writing to the office of the general secretary, Sharon Graham. The aim is to acknowledge receipt within a week and allocate a senior officer to investigate.

IProbablyAm2024 · 30/10/2024 15:10

An Equalities officer should be concerned with all 9 of the Protected Characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

Ask them about their work combating disability discrimination at work.

Harvestfestivalknickers · 30/10/2024 15:05

Feel free to swamp them with graphs/pie charts showing numbers of women in senior leadership positions, the pay gap between male employees and female employees. How does the membership feel about SMP/ support in pregnancy and menopause? And what are they doing about their memberships views regarding the above?

sussexman · 30/10/2024 15:00

I imagine that you can complain by writing to the Union. I would gently suggest that if you make unfounded accusations of criminality and shutting down debate in response to a message to an online specifically trans community you are unlikely to get very far. There is nothing in that post that justifies those accusations.

Harvestfestivalknickers · 30/10/2024 14:54

'Hi, can I just clarify as Equalities officer you'll be interested in my views on how trade unions can help women in the UK too?'