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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

UNISON reported over women-only reserved seat policy after Supreme Court ruling

44 replies

anyolddinosaur · 22/07/2026 09:18

Stephen Flaherty - who exposed Nottm College's secret transition of a child to her mother and was fired for doing so (garden in the usual place) has decided to report Unison to the Certification Officer who is supposed to "ensure that trade unions and employers' associations carry out their statutory duties". Interesting decision. More info below

"Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that women do have a right to a women-only changing room. UNISON, of course, continue to oppose this, betraying their members again. And they did so straight away, allowing a man to stand for a reserved woman's seat in the 2025 elections.

As a member of UNISON, I felt this was wrong, so I complained, using their official channels. And, just like my ex-employer, they ignored my complaint. So I reported them to the Certification Officer, who regulate unions in the UK. Unlike my tribunal, I didn't have to wait 3 years for resolution: It'll be heard next week, on the 15th July, just over a year after my complaint. I'm hoping to get a declaration from the Certification Officer that their actions were illegal and an instruction for them to change their electoral policy to bring it into line with the law.

I think this will be useful as UNISON are not the only union with illegal policies that haven't been rewritten after the Supreme Court Ruling exposed them as illegal. Watch this space, I'll report the result."

OP posts:
TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 22/07/2026 09:58

Well, this could be huge, I didn't realise that Unions have a regulatory body, the women in charge of Unison is a frothing at the mouth TRA, she'll not like this, she'll not like this one little bit. 😁 (wish I could do the bigly stuff because that smiley face should be huge)

Grin Beaming GIF by Smiley
SidewaysOtter · 22/07/2026 10:18

It would be delicious to see UNISON made to comply with the law like everyone else.

(Did anyone else think that UNISON had been reserving actual chairs for women? No, just me...)

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 22/07/2026 10:21

SidewaysOtter · 22/07/2026 10:18

It would be delicious to see UNISON made to comply with the law like everyone else.

(Did anyone else think that UNISON had been reserving actual chairs for women? No, just me...)

I did too!

FarriersGirl · 22/07/2026 10:30

I resigned from Unison about 15 years ago as I thought they were entirely self-serving and not interested in their members. Seems to have got worse over time so I will be interested in the outcome of this. Hopefully this regulatory body has a actual spine as many of them do not.

IrnBruAndDietCoke · 22/07/2026 11:24

What was the outcome of the hearing? Did it go well?

TeaAndStrumpets · 22/07/2026 11:28

SidewaysOtter · 22/07/2026 10:18

It would be delicious to see UNISON made to comply with the law like everyone else.

(Did anyone else think that UNISON had been reserving actual chairs for women? No, just me...)

Oh I really did, imagining little reserved signs 😊

anyolddinosaur · 22/07/2026 11:51

I let mumsnet choose the title.

Didnt actually know there wasany regulation of unions so I thought this was interesting - and that other unions may also be falling foul of the law and could also be reported.

No update on what happened yet.

Stephen needs more plants.

OP posts:
onlytherain · 22/07/2026 20:15

Stephen needs more plants.

Urgently.

MrsTomRipley · 22/07/2026 20:20

bigly writing is hashtag then a space

AnAutumnCrow · 22/07/2026 20:33

anyolddinosaur · 22/07/2026 11:51

I let mumsnet choose the title.

Didnt actually know there wasany regulation of unions so I thought this was interesting - and that other unions may also be falling foul of the law and could also be reported.

No update on what happened yet.

Stephen needs more plants.

Might be 4+ weeks?

The CO’s decision
The CO will not make his decision at the hearing but will indicate when he expects to be able to issue a written decision, with reasons.
In reaching his decision, the CO will consider all the evidence provided to him (including the submissions). He aims to make his decision within 4 weeks of the hearing.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/certification-officers-hearing-procedures#the-cos-decision

Thanks for the heads-up on the regulator, OP. Ironically, the appeal would go to the EAT service.

Certification Officer’s hearing procedures

Guidance for applicants and unions attending a hearing with the Certification Officer (CO).

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/certification-officers-hearing-procedures#the-cos-decision

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 22/07/2026 20:57

onlytherain · 22/07/2026 20:15

Stephen needs more plants.

Urgently.

Okay, Okay, not much but as Tesco say every little helps. 👍

BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 22/07/2026 21:05

MrsTomRipley · 22/07/2026 20:20

bigly writing is hashtag then a space

@Boiledbeetle @Seethlaw wasn't me, guv!

MyThreeWords · 22/07/2026 22:44

bigly test post please ignore

MyThreeWords · 22/07/2026 22:44

MyThreeWords · 22/07/2026 22:44

bigly test post please ignore

Ooh. Exciting. As you were.

WallaceinAnderland · 22/07/2026 22:49

MrsTomRipley · 22/07/2026 20:20

bigly writing is hashtag then a space

THANKS!

MyThreeWords · 22/07/2026 22:52

How do you switch off the embiggenment if you want the rest of your post to be normal? Another hashtag to close it off, or would that make it even bigglier?

SidewaysOtter · 22/07/2026 22:52

MrsTomRipley · 22/07/2026 20:20

bigly writing is hashtag then a space

What like this?

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 22/07/2026 22:54

Big # Bigger # Biggest!

let’s see…
I too imagined rows of chairs reserved for women. Thank you Stephen for challenging Unison!

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 22/07/2026 22:55

MyThreeWords · 22/07/2026 22:52

How do you switch off the embiggenment if you want the rest of your post to be normal? Another hashtag to close it off, or would that make it even bigglier?

Just new line, I think. # as in
drop to a new line.

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 22/07/2026 22:57

Why doesn’t it work # midline?

perhaps it has to be from the start of the line?

BiologicalRobot · 22/07/2026 23:10

Thanks for posting OP. This could get very interesting, with both things. And hopefully not interesting enough for MN tech guys to interfere with... 😠

lcakethereforeIam · 22/07/2026 23:16

Try using more than one #️⃣

LunaShip · 23/07/2026 00:18

.

anyolddinosaur · 23/07/2026 07:54

@AnAutumnCrow Thanks, that does explain why Stephen hasnt said anything more yet. I wonder if there is a way to bring this to people's attention more widely. I imagine there are a lot of unions whose actions are illegal and the regulator could be flooded with cases. Not everyone would want to go to an EAT if the regulator is captured but I suspect a lot of people would be willing to call out their union in this way.

OP posts:
YourWatermelonship · 23/07/2026 08:44

placemarking for decision

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