AIBU to leave Unison over this?

[ShouldIStayOrShouldIGo18]

I've become increasingly concerned about some of the pro-transactivist, anti-feminist crap coming out of Unison and this latest bollocks feels like the final straw:

www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2018/08/2018-LGBT-Conference-Preliminary-Agenda-and-Covering-Letter.pdf

I would highlight some of my concerns, some of the misleading information and outright lies in it but there are so many I don't know where to start.

I am a lesbian and I particularly read all the LGBT stuff from Unison (although I should obviously know better by now...) and maybe most members don't even see or register any of this stuff that is going on. But I find it particularly infuriating that this misogynist crap is going on in my name - both under the 'LGBT' banner and through Unison which I am contributing to.

Should I just ignore it because it is just the (former) LGBT section and I don't know how much influence they have across the wider organisation? If I do leave, are there other unions which are less affected by this bollocks?

Motion 17 - TRANSPHOBIC ‘FEMINISM’ - Yorkshire and Humberside region LGBT group looks like a good laugh. Good to note that it's Yorkshire once again

Er...

22 Conference further notes that in the area of trans people’s rights, the government signalled that it would not allow the review of the GRA to be derailed by transphobic and trans exclusionary groups. Its response to a petition arguing that any change in
the GRA could “impact on women-only services and spaces” and would challenge“the principle of single-sex spaces” clearly stated that reform of the GRA was not a threat to women-only spaces.
However, transphobic groups continue to crowd social media, hijack Pride marches, and garner support from the media. We must remain vigilant and continue to challenge the misinformation and bigotry that have been, and continue to be, whipped up by those who seek to remove or water down transgender rights

YANBU but if all the sane people leave we're all fucked.

OP, it would be hard to put your name to this pile of shite....

24 bisexual, transgender (LGBT) abuse, threats, harassment and incitements of violence.

Conference, abuse, threats, harassment and violence are what many of our trans colleagues have to put up with and suffer from everyday with much of the ‘hate’ coming from some prominent feminists in the media and, it is regrettable to say, within the Labour Party, with much of the vitriol being predominantly targeted at transwomen.

Many of these feminists seem to think that it is OK for them to vilify trans women, questioning whether trans women are ‘real’ women, and in some instances threatening violence, with at least one Labour activist, being questioned by police over an alleged hate crime for comments she made at a meeting in York in 2017.

And then they have the audacity to take offence when they are censored or ‘no- platformed’ and advocate that by doing so is an attack, not only on them, but also on free speech and is all part of a ‘war on women’? Well, conference, enough is enough.

Conference, we all know who some of these individuals are, and when they boycotted or shouted down by members of the public or organisations they are not having their freedom of speech taken away, and they are not being censored: they are simply being told that their harmful, hateful views are not welcome and being asked to ‘shut-up’ or take their views elsewhere.

The trans-phobic messages of hate, particularly against trans women, that these individuals are making are not being made in the name of ‘freedom of speech’, they are being made in the name of ignorance, prejudice and hate and they should not be given the prominence in the media that they are being given.

Conference calls on the national LGBT committee to:
1.Take a firm public stance against trans exclusionary radical feminism;

1. Support UNISON members by producing guidance on:

A.What trans exclusionary radical feminism is and how it damages our community; B. Best practice for dealing with trans exclusionary radical feminism; =====

• Also possibly the worst speech in history; the fecker need to learn to write

But I guess you should try to ensure it doesn't pass? And if it does, then leave

Wait till you read their response to the consultation on the GRA proposed amendment....

www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00539494.pdf
here is the link to their response

www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00539495.pdf
and this

Its response to a petition arguing that any change in
the GRA could “impact on women-only services and spaces” and would challenge“the principle of single-sex spaces” clearly stated that reform of the GRA was not a threat to women-only spaces.

This particular lie - which is cunningly based on their notion that TWAW, of course - is especially infuriating.

But the whole tone of that 'motion' ("enough is enough", etc), which turns the truth entirely on its head by positing GC women as aggressors, whilst simultaneously continuing the frightening movement to silence any and all dissent or even discussion of the issues - is very, very disturbing.

yes it is scary. I have been a life long union member and activist but cannot come out as gender critical at work because of this. Needless to say I am not an activist anymore.

yanbu. We need a female-only trade union.

Could you present a counter-motion at conference?

Another Unison one - I received a link to an equalities questionnaire recently. No mention of sex, but asked my gender.
I queried this with my local branch. Why ask my gender when sex is the protected EA characteristic? Local branch have fielded my question to HQ. Am waiting for a response.

Beamur, I completed that questionnaire too and where gender was asked for I responded other and explained that sex is the protected characteristic. It looks like I need to start looking for another union, though I fear I may now be homeless union wise the same as I am politically. I have been a union member all my working life and only came back to Unison in the last few years after leaving them because of questionable behaviour of a local rep some 20 years ago.

YANBU. It is heart-breakingly, blood-boilingly awful.

Could you present a counter-motion at conference?

I'm not going to the conference - As a gender-critical lesbian that would be very much stepping into the lion's den. It's been an odd experience going for being drawn towards and feeling part of anything 'LGBT' or with the rainbow flag for so much of my life and now recoiling from and actively avoiding anything (L)GBT.

I would like to express my grave concerns about the way Unison is heading and the behaviour of some of its representatives but I daren't - and that is the power they have over us. At least one of Unison's officials is involved in the Labour Against Transphobia group (through which Labour Party members illegally accessed and published the records of Party members with dissenting views to try to get them expelled - and, if I say anything, these same people will have access to my name, home address and my employer - and I have no doubt that some would feel justified in trying to get me sacked.

This is no way you should feel about your own trade union, is it? I doubt whether they would have my back if I have any issues at work - and I think some would actually try to get me attacked and hounded out of my job.