Sexist Unions boycott Labour women's conference

fromorbit · 2026-07-29T09:53:32+00:00

Unison, Aslef, Usdaw and the Musicians Union are planning to not attend Labour Women's Conference on 26 September 2026 in Liverpool because men are not allowed. This is breaking Labour party rules against sex discrimination against women and that the Supreme Court judgement is correct: [[https://labour.org.uk/resources/supreme-court-judgment-faqs/ https://labour.org.uk/resources/supreme-court-judgment-faqs/]] This could be a huge issue for Burnham and Labour. Especially as Unison, & Unite are already facing court cases over their refusal to admit women exist. Like the recent Amnesty trainwreck this could be a self inflicted car crash for TAs in the unions. It will force Labour to choose between reality and catering to a bunch of sexists who don't like it when women get have political meetings without male supervision.

Original poster

fromorbit · 03/08/2026 08:04

Times article on the challenge to union sexism.

‘Unions fought for the Equality Act. Now they want it abolished’
Meet the ordinary Scottish women defending their right to believe in biology

https://www.thetimes.com/article/b69ba4c1-0e13-4117-bdd8-85edc5b1a96b?shareToken=7147357ca837a4f434493791f44ba5a5

Verifying Device

https://www.thetimes.com/article/b69ba4c1-0e13-4117-bdd8-85edc5b1a96b?shareToken=7147357ca837a4f434493791f44ba5a5

OP posts:

Mmmnotsure · 01/08/2026 22:50

SirChenjins · 30/07/2026 10:27

Let them huff - we need to stop pandering to their teenage dramas. Dont't want to attend? Don't come then <shrug>. They're not trains, they don't need to announce their departures.

And of course I read that as 'They're not trans".

Ereshkigalangcleg · 01/08/2026 22:24

Yes, Peggie v RCN starting 23 Sept for 7 days.

Original poster

fromorbit · 01/08/2026 09:49

Still no involvement from Labour politicians in this debate. Media asleep on the job. Ask a senior women in :Labour what they think about the boycott.

Letter in Morning Star condemns Unison's position:
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/morning-star/20260731/281840060464924?srsltid=AfmBOoqPTLVLypaKMxj6Vg_gYGIzhI03NO7S-8IpHrexkH-FepmIkSUk

Good article on the crisis in this thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5561287-from-cradley-heath-to-liverpool-the-history-of-unions-betraying-female-workers?reply=153885574

From Cradley Heath to Liverpool: The History of Unions Betraying Female Workers | Mumsnet

*^The Oldest Story in the Labour Movement Has a New Chapter, and It Stinks…^* ^In 1874, a bookbinder named Emma Paterson founded the Women’s Trade Un...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5561287-from-cradley-heath-to-liverpool-the-history-of-unions-betraying-female-workers?reply=153885574

OP posts:

NotAtMyAge · 30/07/2026 19:26

MashaPav · 30/07/2026 08:06

Calling them sexist is misinformation, unions have members of both genders and they boycott it because feminist identified transphobes (which have captured our legal and political system) have pushed too far in their attempts of erasing trans people from public life. Long may the pendulum swing this way, good on them.

Trans-identified men and women are welcome in the full Labour Party conference. However the Women's Conference is specifically for women - adult members of the female biological sex - so no males can attend the main conference, however they identify, though they are welcome at the fringe events. Seems perfectly fair to me.

downhillfromhier · 30/07/2026 18:32

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Andy Burnham decided to emulate the boy in the Emperor's New Clothes and call them all out?. He has the Supreme Court verdict in his corner.
He won't of course but it would improve his poll ratings if he did.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 30/07/2026 18:32

Yes, I guess that’s how you get ahead as a union woman, concentrate on important things affecting men and throw women under the bus.

downhillfromhier · 30/07/2026 18:27

The irony is that many of those deluded Unions are now led by women. In the past male Union Leaders wouldn't have dared to throw sex based rights on the bonfire.

downhillfromhier · 30/07/2026 18:25

The modern day Trade Unions have an extreme talent for making themselves irrelevant to the real needs and wants of the working populace. Trampling over women's sex based rights is one way to keep their membership numbers falling. It will be too late by the time they wake up from their delusions...

Ereshkigalangcleg · 30/07/2026 18:18

They are so unbelievably contemptuous of women.

IwantToRetire · 30/07/2026 18:10

Artificialgrass · 30/07/2026 15:58

I contacted Unison asking why they’re not representing women at a women’s conference. They said that as Labour is restricting the conference to ‘biological women’’ , it’s again Unison’s policy on trans equality.

So a union whose membership is largely made up of women, I believe, are not actually representing their own members! Mmmm.

Edited

Just shocking how entrenched this anti woman position is.

2026 and women as a sex class have no status in society.

Artificialgrass · 30/07/2026 17:57

SylvanMoon · 30/07/2026 17:16

But they will claim that they are representing their members as apparently they voted (via representatives) to hold this TWAW policy. Only thing is the ordinary members weren't consulted on it, only the activists (most of who will be AWL or SWP members sliding into union rep roles -- and that's true across many of the unions).

Show quote history

Yes, basically this.

SylvanMoon · 30/07/2026 17:16

Artificialgrass · 30/07/2026 15:58

I contacted Unison asking why they’re not representing women at a women’s conference. They said that as Labour is restricting the conference to ‘biological women’’ , it’s again Unison’s policy on trans equality.

So a union whose membership is largely made up of women, I believe, are not actually representing their own members! Mmmm.

Edited

But they will claim that they are representing their members as apparently they voted (via representatives) to hold this TWAW policy. Only thing is the ordinary members weren't consulted on it, only the activists (most of who will be AWL or SWP members sliding into union rep roles -- and that's true across many of the unions).

Artificialgrass · 30/07/2026 15:58

I contacted Unison asking why they’re not representing women at a women’s conference. They said that as Labour is restricting the conference to ‘biological women’’ , it’s again Unison’s policy on trans equality.

So a union whose membership is largely made up of women, I believe, are not actually representing their own members! Mmmm.

Original poster

fromorbit · 30/07/2026 10:50

GB News interview over boycott

'This is absolute arrogance in the face of the highest court in this land.'

Gender critical activist Maeve Halligan reacts as four unions announce a boycott of Labour's women's conference over the exclusion of trans women.

https://nitter.net/GBNEWS/status/2082581156436824294

More bangers.

Leslie B

Replying to glosswitch
Back in the 80s I was at an STUC Women’s Conference & at least one big TU threw a wobbly & insisted on sending male delegates. Two cheeks of the same sexist arse. At least back then women objected - nowadays senior female trade unionists support it

Trans Widows’ Voices.

Imagine how I felt as a recent trans widow attending my first women’s conference for my trade union, only to find my regional representative was a middle aged AGP bloke in a bad wig.

Women’s Rights Network- Greater Manchester

1h
Labour says its Women’s Conference exists to advance women in politics and comply with the law.

So why are unisontheunion, ASLEFunion, UsdawUnion and the WeAreTheMU
boycotting it because the conference follows the legal definition of “woman” for its formal proceedings?

Are your women members happy that you’re boycotting a conference created to advance women?

OP posts:

Pleasantsort2 · 30/07/2026 10:32

No shit given to the women who have given decades to that party and unions . Naw just prioritise the "special ladies" . Sod that.

SirChenjins · 30/07/2026 10:27

Let them huff - we need to stop pandering to their teenage dramas. Dont't want to attend? Don't come then <shrug>. They're not trains, they don't need to announce their departures.

Original poster

fromorbit · 30/07/2026 09:39

WrongKindOfFeminist · 30/07/2026 08:43

Gender is infinite. How reductive to suggest only two.

Yeah Mash being rather "transphobic" here.

OP posts:

Original poster

fromorbit · 30/07/2026 09:37

Labour LGB on the boycott.

Labour LGB

14h
Disappointing to see 4 unions boycotting a women's conference - and Labour Women's Conference at that.
unison congratulates itself on being the largest women's org. usdawunion
most likely has a large female % (They won't publish numbers) but won't represent women. Why so desperate to shut women up?

OP posts:

sanluca · 30/07/2026 09:19

MashaPav · 30/07/2026 08:06

Calling them sexist is misinformation, unions have members of both genders and they boycott it because feminist identified transphobes (which have captured our legal and political system) have pushed too far in their attempts of erasing trans people from public life. Long may the pendulum swing this way, good on them.

Every time you post something, you clearly demonstrate your end goal is to remove male and female sex classification as distinct legal groups and ensure there are no sex based rights. The majority of the population is against this so you are fighting a losing battle. Mixed toilets maybe, mixed changing rooms no, mixed sports hell no

WrongKindOfFeminist · 30/07/2026 08:43

Gender is infinite. How reductive to suggest only two.

Igmum · 30/07/2026 08:38

Unions have members of both sexes and they boycott this conference because they see the wants of men (however they identify) as significantly more important than the rights of women.

There, fixed it for you. HTH.

MashaPav · 30/07/2026 08:06

Calling them sexist is misinformation, unions have members of both genders and they boycott it because feminist identified transphobes (which have captured our legal and political system) have pushed too far in their attempts of erasing trans people from public life. Long may the pendulum swing this way, good on them.

Original poster

fromorbit · 30/07/2026 07:56

Metros seeming campaign to shame Labour over having a conference for women has stepped up. Next weapon Mr Steph Richards with a real sob story:

Triggering warning you will need a really small violin to read this -

Labour backed me as a woman – now I’m banned from their women’s conference’
Luke Alsford

https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/30/labour-backed-a-woman-now-im-banned-womens-conference-29253100/

Interestingly Richards was not so keen on having people in Labour conferences a few years ago when they were trying to scare Rosie Duffield from attending and Labour Women's Declaration from having a stall . I wonder why?

Labour Party Refuses LWD’s Application For Stand at National Conference 2022

https://labourwomensdeclaration.org.uk/the-silencing-of-women/

I still think this is a real shark jumping moment. I think this is going to backfire within Labour in a big way.

'Labour backed me as a woman – now I'm banned from their women's conference'

https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/30/labour-backed-a-woman-now-im-banned-womens-conference-29253100/

OP posts:

IwantToRetire · 29/07/2026 18:36

fromorbit · 29/07/2026 16:47

Rosie Duffield MP

1h
Yet another reminder why hardworking women need to boycott mainstream unions as they still deem men's rights to be more important than women's. They also clearly don't want to adhere to Labour's 2010 Equality Act.

Thank goodness for DarlingtonUnion

I didn't know she has said this about unions.

Interesting that she has, sad that it hasn't been more widely reported.