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Original poster

Unison elections - female only seats are not so

64 replies

FrodoTheBlueWhippet · 25/04/2025 16:33

Disappointed to receive ballot papers from Unison today for their upcoming elections.

Why is it acceptable to have men standing in the Disabled Members' Seats Female Seat??

OP posts:
Original poster
FrodoTheBlueWhippet · 25/04/2025 17:14

Photos hopefully attached, there are more pages with 2 more female candidates

Unison elections - female only seats are not so
Unison elections - female only seats are not so
OP posts:
Cailleach1 · 25/04/2025 17:13

Ah, ok. I’ve found the person of the male sex who is running to take a seat for (from) someone of the female sex.

https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2025/04/NEC-2025-notice-of-election-Contested-seats.pdf

I thought this was deemed to be illegal (by the Supreme Court ruling) as it is for a protected characteristic. Well, two in this case. He may be disabled (I don’t know whether he is or not). However, he is certainly not a woman, or female in this case. He remains his biological sex.

Original poster
FrodoTheBlueWhippet · 25/04/2025 17:12

Is it limited to women only candidates in the rules or just supposed to represent women and traditionally only female candidates have stood? The ballot papers didn't come with the rules...but seeing as there's also a Disabled Members' Seats General Seat I'd have thought it's meant to be female only?

Unison recently voted at conference to agree that transwomen are women.
I need to change union
I'll be having to move too then.

I'll try and post photos

OP posts:
Bigearringsbigsmile · 25/04/2025 17:03

Unison recently voted at conference to agree that transwomen are women.
I need to change union

ErrolTheDragon · 25/04/2025 17:02

OchonAgusOchonOh · 25/04/2025 16:57

I think in this instance, it is men who are not trans identifying who they are discriminating against.

Show quote history

They’re doing that too, but primarily discriminating against women who are not getting proper representation.

Cailleach1 · 25/04/2025 17:01

OchonAgusOchonOh · 25/04/2025 16:57

I think in this instance, it is men who are not trans identifying who they are discriminating against.

Show quote history

I understand what you are saying. However, if it is, first and foremost, a seat for a woman, are they not directly discriminating against the women for whom that seat is intended.

I presume any man can ‘identify’ as a woman and run for (steal) the women’s seat.

Cailleach1 · 25/04/2025 16:57

There are quite a few organisations who are fighting discrimination against women. It would be good to send screenshots of the ballot paper, and they may amplify it.

Is it a national board, or local representation? Post a screenshot here, and maybe someone can pick it up. I presume the candidates are not a secret.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 25/04/2025 16:57

Cailleach1 · 25/04/2025 16:52

Maybe get it some publicity. They’re a big Union, and it is not good that they appear to be shafting women. After all, the SC ruling was widely reported, and Unison are discriminating against women. They should be exposed for this.

I think in this instance, it is men who are not trans identifying who they are discriminating against.

Cailleach1 · 25/04/2025 16:52

Maybe get it some publicity. They’re a big Union, and it is not good that they appear to be shafting women. After all, the SC ruling was widely reported, and Unison are discriminating against women. They should be exposed for this.

ErrolTheDragon · 25/04/2025 16:51

Surely to goodness this is pretty much directly analagous to the issue the clarification was in relation to? (Women’s representation on boards).

OchonAgusOchonOh · 25/04/2025 16:48

needmoresheep · 25/04/2025 16:38

Unions no longer support women. We have to start our own

Is that legal? Surely the supreme court ruling means that if it is categorised as a female/women's seat, something they are allowed do in order to reach a legitimate aim of more equal representation, it must only be open to females/women as to do otherwise would discriminate against males/men who are not trans identifying?

Edited: I don't know how I ended up quoting you. It was just meant to be a reply.

Cailleach1 · 25/04/2025 16:46

Isn’t that against the law in Britain? If they say it is a female seat, and they put a male forward for it.

Same as if they put forward someone without a disability, in the Disabled Members’ seat.

NumberTheory · 25/04/2025 16:44

Is it limited to women only candidates in the rules or just supposed to represent women and traditionally only female candidates have stood?

I’m not saying it’s acceptable either way, but if the rules limit who can stand you may have legal options.

needmoresheep · 25/04/2025 16:38

Unions no longer support women. We have to start our own