MNHQ - I hope you are going to release your own statement on GMB Union

[OvaHere]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3920159-GMB-Statement-on-transphobia?pg=2

I'm horrified how little their commitment to women's employment rights matter during a global pandemic. It smacks of paying lip service to something they clearly think so little of if it can be rescinded on the flimsiest of accusations.

It's a common theme for men to punish women as a class for the perceived transgressions of a few. Almost biblical and reminiscent of the 'original sin' narrative.

Not only are GMB Union withdrawing legal advice from women here who discuss feminism they are also withdrawing it from every demographic of women who use this site.

I'm truly appalled at this behaviour whilst the country is in crisis. I hope you push back officially against this. It goes way beyond a company that chooses not to advertise - it's the withdrawing of legal advice for women who 'might' have committed wrongthink.

Agree Ova, there needs to be pushback. How many misogynists make baseless claims about MN and the company/Union disintegrates like a wet paper bag? I'm so angry about this.

The union a) don’t respect women and parents and b) don’t who knows that.
unbelieveable.

Don’t care.
Sorry cross.

I'm absolutely livid. It's disgusting considering the hardships many women will be facing due to Covid-19.

It's a common theme for men to punish women as a class for the perceived transgressions of a few.

YY

And still there will be people who think that the women of MN deserve this.

Agree that MNHQ need to put their own side across.

Many of the women who posted in the pinned thread seeking legal advice will have been facing genuine difficulties. Many of them completely unaware of the discussions in the feminist section.

They will now have no access to helpful legal advice in the face of an unprecedented global crisis and are being punished for using a female centric parenting site.

This completely betrays what should really be very basic left wing union politics. To recognise the material and legal rights of the working class. If that recognition doesn't include women then GMB have no business existing as a union.

Unless Mumsnet can get paid by the MRAs at the GMB and host a discussion from a union for free, choosing a union that does respect women and parents?

I'm starting to think we should just form our own union @OneEpisode.

Somebody needs to set up a female workers union IMO. But I suppose it wouldn't be allowed.

Well, we could say that members have to identify as male for a set period every week to cover all bases

pertella wouldn’t It be easier to ban people who claim to be “cis”? I think that’s legal. And under the equality act we could choose to ban all men, if it was proportionate, but I might like my Nigel to be able to join.
I think family/pregnancy is the same under the Equalities Act isn’t it? You can discriminate for pregnant people if it is a proportionate response to a reasonable aim? So you could have a position reserved for pregnant women.

Not only are GMB Union withdrawing legal advice from women here who discuss feminism they are also withdrawing it from every demographic of women who use this site.

It's unforgivable, especially in light of the number of women who are working themselves to death over this bloody virus. The nurses, caregivers, etc.

Who are you clapping for GMB? Just the men??

Awful behaviour.

It's 2020, you dinosaurs. It's a great look, withdrawing support from women who are discussing their rights under the law and have been actively asked to by the public consultation of their own government. Ffs.

While I'm on it, HQ, can you please, please come up with a way of people being able to donate or join the premium service, without compromising their anonymity.

So, let's be clear. A major union has decided that the women on Mumsnet, all of them, and there are a lot, do not deserve to be reached out to because some women on this site have said things that make some people on Twitter cross? And they thought that the middle of a pandemic would be an ideal time to pull this shit?

GMB members will still be able to receive advice from their union. It is overegging it to say they are withdrawing support.

What they have does is end their participation in some MN Q&As.

If MN want to continue that series, then there are many unions to invite. How many threads/activities were there still to go when GMB pulled out?

What they have does is end their participation in some MN Q&As.

Because a man has told them, on Twitter, of all places, that some women here are talking about things they don't like.

Talk about missing the Zeitgeist.

Bluntly, this is not the bloody time for unions to be making it harder for any of their members to access information or support. Perhaps they haven't noticed that we're in a bit of a crisis at the moment and that women are being hit particularly hard? Women, not "comedians" who think that it would be nice if women would shut up.

If I were in charge of MN they would not be invited back. If they can backtrack so swiftly due to a sweeping generalisation, I would be thinking - in a sweeping generalisation of course- that this is a body which does not support women/mums.

This may not be the case of course but it is certainly looking that way.

It appears you can no longer post on the Q and A thread (apologies if someone has mentioned this already and I missed it) as I think posters should be made aware of this situation.

I posted a question on there originally to say I am shielding but my DH has been forced to return to work as his employers they have refused time off - I asked for advice on how we could be protected. It's very important to me, after all (this sounds melodramatic!) but it literally is a life and death situation for me.

As a group the shielded people have been put at risk by the government's failure to provide protection to us - our health and our lives are at risk. Now a union will not provide advice on how to ensure we can get this protection. The majority of those questions on that thread were from women in insecure, or ZHC employment who are being put at risk by their employers.

Now a union which offered support to these women has withdrawn it - as they have been targeted by a small number of people who don't like what other women have to say when we stand up their rights. They want to silence us and isolate us - but also people who happen to stand next to us!

I am more than happy to say I don't believe men can become women and happy to fight against the fact support is denied me because I say that. But other women on that thread haven't said that, or may not even believe it or even be aware of it - yet they have also been denied support and advice.

How the fuck can that be right?

"Sorry, your rights and your health and your life aren't worth protecting because you don't believe men should be allowed to access single sex spaces".

Really?! Do they even think how that fucking sounds?

*GMB is the trade union for everyone. Our job is simple: protecting, defending and extending your rights in the workplace and beyond.

That means being there to fight your corner if you have a problem, big or small – and working to get you a better deal. Whatever the issue, we have thousands of highly trained staff and expert activists to support you. From securing proper sick pay in workplaces and ensuring wage support, to leading demands for proper protective equipment at the Government top table – we make sure our members’ voices are heard locally and nationally.

That’s the power of getting a union on your side. With GMB that’s what you get: a family that stands up for you.*

Ha fucking ha.

Very sorry for your situation @ItsBollocksQuiteFrankly and very sorry you will no longer receive the much needed advice.

It’s ironic to withdraw support for a site which allows women to discuss their human rights and equality rights as a protected characteristic because Twitter activists don’t like it.

Sorry, terribly SPaG and a bit inarticulate today!

I'm actually furious and upset about this, I didn't actually think I could feel much worse at the moment as I'm so fucking fed up about my situation anyway. I can't get any answers from anyone about the shielding risks and employment protection - even from my MP. We have no rights, no protection, no legislation to protect us.

No one gives a fuck and the very people who should give a fuck and hold employers/government to account, think I'm not worth helping.

Really?! Do they even think how that fucking sounds?

Nope, they think "if I agree to this then the flying monkeys on Twitter will stop shouting at me, which is far more important than supporting women could ever be".