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 It smacks of paying lip service to something they clearly think so little of if it can be rescinded on the flimsiest of accusations.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.

Thank you ova (sorry we cross posted and I have lots of me me me posts on this thread already so I'll try and stop )

It's just so stupid and so depressing, I didn't think it was possible to feel more ignored and supported - the shielding group have literally been abandoned with little advice and no proper legal protection at all. My DH has been off and due to return to work tonight so I was actually hoping we may have some advice on the Q and A this afternoon to help us, but no. I've been waiting for today. It's such a let down and for such a shit reason makes it worse.

It's fine Frankly it was women like you who I started the thread for. I'm raging on your behalf so post as much as you like.

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".

Exactly.

The reason they have done this is because they see women's voices as irrelevant and worthless and male voices as intimidating and worthy of listening to. We see you, GMB.

I don’t think the GMB realised that the majority of its membership are not Twitter users. It’s a blue collar union and the female membership is not particularly woke: they are often in the caring professions so they know what sex is.

I am just astounded and horrified by GMB withdrawing help for the women here at this critical time. The guy who led this misogynist campaign - because that's what this actually is - has nothing to lose in any of this, not on the women's spaces front nor the desperate need for support in work matters which disproportionately affect women, particularly during this pandemic. None of it touches the sides while he laughs along about how woke and powerful he is in his massive place of privilege.

"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?

It's unbelievable.

They honestly couldn't have got it more wrong.

Thanks everyone for your posts here. Wanted to let you know that I've contacted the General Secretary of the GMB Union and offered to discuss any specific concerns raised with him and the President of the Union. We very much hope that once they have the full picture and are appraised of our moderation stance they'll recommence their activity. Will keep you posted.

Thank you Justine. I'm completely behind you on this one as are many of the women here.

I hope they reconsider for the sake of the women who most need support during this pandemic.

I de-regged a while back to stop myself wasting so much time on MN. I've re-regged to post this in the hope that GMB actually reads this thread, because I'm so angry about this.

Because really, when you strip it down, it is horrifyingly outrageous.

A man (of no discernible talent or merit) throws a hissy fit on twitter. On the basis of his completely unfounded accusations which (even were they true, which I don't think they are) apply to only a tiny corner of the site, GMB pulls a support thread about employment rights for a site with 12 million unique members, mostly female, at the time of the biggest crisis the UK has faced in 75 years, with a looming economic depression to end all depressions on the horizon, the first effects of which are beginning to be felt and are already hitting women disproportionately (even the Daily Telegraph are running articles on this, for Christ's sake).

Rank misogyny at its absolutely most naked.

GMB - your actions are making you look like you rate mediocre, whinging middle-class male comics far above your female membership in importance. It is not a good look. And I say that as someone who has been a trade union member, branch council member and activist for decades.

Yes. Great post Cara

2 judges and 1 QC have taken a fairly “Mumsnet line” on trans issues.

1 comedian however: yeah let’s listen to him because he’s whipped up a twitter mob and got a lot of likes

I would have expected the GMB to have done their homework before agreeing to the project. They should have known any controversies that surround MN, just google! If they did that and agreed or were stupid enough not to they should have at least answered the questions that were there.

Thank you Justine. I'm completely behind you on this one as are many of the women here

I hope they reconsider for the sake of the women who most need support during this pandemic

Absolutely

And what cara said

I hope they reconsider for the sake of the women who most need support during this pandemic

You can't just withdraw support from people, many of whom will be your members, because some other people, many of whom will be your members, say something that someone else doesn't like!

This is awful behaviour by the GMB. They have bowed to pressure from an online pile-on of people who don't need them. We are going through an unprecedented time of uncertainty with confusing and changing guidelines, and when people in minimum wage employment, a large proportion of them women, will need unions as never before and GMB seem to have lost sight of their purpose in this.

Agree this is awful behaviour. Whether or not you agree with everything that's posted on Mumsnet, people are entitled to freedom of speech - you'd have thought a Trade Union would recognise that.

The gmb seem to have bowed to bullying. It’s a shame that.

But they are not the only one to do fuck all about bullying yet are falling over themselves to be all inclusive to the point of exclusion of women. Despite all the protestations to the contrary.

It’s called cry bullying. GMB has been fooled into thinking that Mumsnet are the bad guys.

Pelleas

Agree this is awful behaviour. Whether or not you agree with everything that's posted on Mumsnet, people are entitled to freedom of speech - you'd have thought a Trade Union would recognise that.

You've nailed it there Pelleas. We can, and do, justify what we say on FWR, but it's not really the point, is it?

A trade union represent its members.

Of course, those members are going to have different views. It's the whole point of being human.

It's not the top of a union to police what their members think.

Thank you Justine.

Well said, Cara. We're all right behind you on this one, Justine.

What you all said. I'm too angry to be coherent about this. Sick of this fucking shit

@JustineMumsnet I saw this on twitter & thought you should be aware & consider doing some of your own 'analysis' of those currently waging a harassment campaign aimed at MN income streams.

I think it's high time that the knee jerk reactions of companies who capitulate to these bullies/harassers was looked at in similar depth, as I think weak decisions made off the back of serial trolls concerted campaigns should be challenged more robustly. If you haven't already, please consider employing someone to look at the wider picture & gather your own intel/build your own picture to really see what's going on & where it's coming from.