UNISON’s women’s conference in Liverpool celebrated the power of working-class women’s collective strength - and trans inclusion

Well, yes. I'm a left wing atheist. I'd be just as 'intolerant' if they were another faith based organisation whose ethos was diametrically opposed to mine.

Christian Concern

How does that differ from Unison and RCN saying they won’t tolerate GC beliefs?

It doesn't.

And yet somehow I can live with my hypocrisy. I'm complex. And imperfect.

No judgement on them, you just wouldn’t be comfortable around Christians? Is it only Christians you are intolerant of, or other beliefs too? How does that differ from Unison and RCN saying they won’t tolerate GC beliefs?

I'm GC. Unison & the RCN are the absolute pits.

I've no doubt they wouldn't mind if I joined. It just wouldn't be a comfortable fit for me. No judgement on them.

Don’t worry, I am sure they will be happy to have left wing atheists join. Unless you plan to try and tell them they shouldn’t support women who recognise biological reality like left wing unions do.

It would be important to me. Because I'm a left wing atheist. I'm not suggesting it would be an issue for everyone. Some nurses will be conservative. And Christian. And some just won't care as long as they're in a union that has their back when they need them.

I would be up for that

I don’t see how Unison can support its biological women members now since their defiant trans ally stance whereby they are still campaigning against the ruling/law. In turn they are failing their female members that make up 2/3rds of their membership. They can’t campaign for both rights since it’s a huge contradiction and one undermines the other. I do believe this time Unison have boobed big time at the expense of their biological women members at their peril!

not true, trade unions address their reps/officers who form a branch committee to which are the minority not the wider membership regarding issues, campaigns. Most trade unions

This reminds me of those pushing the assisted suicide bill claiming those in opposition are driven by undisclosed beliefs. The implication being Christian beliefs are beyond the pale - but somehow their own beliefs that the poor, vulnerable, and suggest-able should be killed should be beyond question.

Why don't you ask them? And why do you think that's important?

The one's who financed their legal team. I don't know what they're called. Just wondering if they've put up the money to start the Union.

I don't know. Who are they?

Finding another job and then leaving is different to losing your job for speaking out. There are other equivalent opportunities for confident, competent people. There are also less well paid roles which will develop into better ones if you're not too special to change your lifestyle for a short time. Unions don't pay a fortune they pay just enough for enough people to not be able to believe their luck.

The talk of working tirelessly and starving children is part of the drama and self gaslighting which the whole thing runs on. The assumption that anyone expects martyrdom (give me strength 🙄) also plays into the group delusion that noble work is being done. Please do not be a martyr on anyone's account, just stop joining in.

There is also no need to speak out 'for the cause'. There is no cause. The cause is lost because people are too selfish and stupid to act collectively and prefer to participate in the huge lie the unions are because it serves them. That makes them complicit however they tell it to themselves.

That's where the emotional cost is. Knowing that you're playing pick and mix with your values and enabling corruption and the abuse of women will impact your mental health. @IsThisTheReaLife People are 'scared' of nothing more than driving an older car and having to to do an actual day's work instead of fucking around running pointless talking shops. That is not 'working tirelessly'. It's lying to yourself and others about the fact that you are nothing but a relatively well paid hostage.

Is it financed by the Christian Right?

unions do not always act on what their members tell them they want. That is how they SHOULD operate but it’s not always the case. PCS has form for rejecting pay offers without giving their membership the chance to vote on the offer.

Just to be clear, “activists” within branches are not paid by UNISON and still pay their subs like any other member. They are paying for the privilege of doing their bit on top of their paid job,

It would be less contemptuous if they just spat in their members faces.

I dont think it is fair or reasonable for any woman to give up their job, in this econmic climate because of their views on this issue.

Infact, although I hate this word, it is a 'privileged' position. Most women work because they need an income. The lucky ones may get a job that is consistant with their world view, or allows them to do something they love.

But deep down, most organisations, public sector, private or charitable sector have a certain amount of rottoness. Because they are run by people, inperfect, defensive, incompetent, ambitious, sometimes scared people.

Maya said along the lines of (and I am probably misquoting) you should bring your proffessional self to work rather than your whole self.

Surely this applies to the people on this forum as much as the dodgy door knocking comms bloke.

(Apologies for the typos)

Not putting our jobs at risk? Are you for real? Have you seen what happened to Sandie Pegg and the Darlington Nurses ? I have been reported and complained about several times for transphobia by people in your Trade Union for raising issues regarding same sex spaces. Fortunately, it didn't go very far but it could of . I was also reported to my regulating body at one point over "think of the poor twans children" but it went nowhere.

What a stupid stupid woman!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

It comes down to integrity. At what point can you no longer do your job and maintain your integrity? We all have to decide that point for ourselves but unless we are prepared to walk away from an income at some point we have no integrity. Even in extremis, there are things I won’t do - I won’t sell illegal drugs or pimp women’s bodies, I refuse to work in a scam call centre, or promote ideologies I think are harmful. But it doesn’t need to be that extreme before I would look for alternative employment, including taking a pay cut if necessary.

That is different from staying somewhere because we think we can effect change but even then we need to be honest with ourselves about if we can.

What women’s conference was it I went to where we were advised NOT to lose your job over it? Was it Maya talking? Saying that it isn’t helpful to anyone to martyr yourself for the cause. And understanding that women have responsibilities where a job loss could cause utter devastation to them and their families.

I’ve been in Labour, and left. I’m more wedded to UNISON and have tried, and am trying, to ask questions. But I can’t smash the patriarchy by myself, especially not when the people in my branch who elected me don’t want it smashed! It’s nice for them to feel like everything’s sorted for women, and they’re doing their bit for the poor QT+++ people.

There isn’t a SEEN I could join and I don’t feel string enough to start one. Well done to Alice Sullivan though, for the KCL one! That UNISON response is just one reason why they are going to get a lot less of my boring woman energy.

I would question whether or not you have left a job, just for "the cause".
I think you need to look at these current figures.
There are currently 1.84 million people over the age of 16 who are unemployed in the UK, that is an increase of 280K over the last year.
There are currently around 734K job vacancies in the UK, a decrease of 69K compared to the previous year.
In the present economic climate, anyone who simply jacks in their job, to make a point, particularly if they are risking their house and children's future, well, they need to have a long, hard think about what they are doing, because IMHO that is a very reckless action.
It won't make a blind bit of difference to the way Unison treats its women employees.

So basically, screw you, women, is the message. I don't think for a moment that that's what most trades-unionists think, women and men, but I realise it doesn't work like that.

There might be a SEEN network that covers your sector; https://seen-network.uk/other-seens/

As to Labour, round here they're having to import leafleters from the posh burbs. There used to be plenty of members on this estate who were happy to do grunt work but AFAICT, we've all left the Party due to the insanity of middle class hyper individualists with no material analysis.