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Original poster

Sexist Unions boycott Labour women's conference

35 replies

fromorbit · 29/07/2026 10:53

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/

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.

Supreme Court Judgment FAQs – The Labour Party

Supreme Court Judgment: Frequently Asked Questions On 16 April 2025, the Supreme Court clarified that references to “women” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex (meaning the sex of a person at birth), not gender. This means that certain sex...

https://labour.org.uk/resources/supreme-court-judgment-faqs/

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 30/07/2026 18:18

They are so unbelievably contemptuous of women.

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...

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.

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 18:32

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.

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.

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:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 01/08/2026 22:24

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

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".

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

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