"After some very moving contributions, TUC unanimously supports gender self-declaration"

[R0wantrees]

Comment by Ian Murch, Treasurer at National Union Of Teachers section of National Education Union

twitter.com/ianmurch/status/1039470003920293888

Lucy Masood:
"Proud of the FBU and PaulEmbery for ensuring that we did not vote to support the GRA Self ID resolution at the TUC today. The FBU cares and listens to its female members"

twitter.com/luluchops1/status/1039475527139164160

I’m also out of UCU if they voted for this. They’ve asked us about supporting a new vote on Brexit, why not on the GRA? Bastards.

Trade unions policies on trans self id have been designed exclusively by their LGBT committees, without proper engagement of wider membership, or even the womens committees.

What is organisational governance like if policies emerging from committees don't have to be put out for challenge and revision by other interested parties?

The strategy of leaving policy in the hands of committees is what I am worried about with the Women's Equality Party if they don't adopt the principles of procedural justice.

Appalling. This it too big an issue to be nodded through on the advice of one committee. Just like Brexit. Thanks again to our lefty woke bros and their handmaidens.

So, the NEU voted for this, but Kiri Tunks is the President of the NEU. confused
Are the majority of teachers Women?

I suspect most don't know about it.

I'm not in a union but surely this is an AIBU thread?

We need a 'mumsnet party'. I've been thinking about it for quite some time now. I reckon MN is a force to be reckoned with and could definitely find a way to become even more influential than it is.

I am already out of the UCU, and I won’t be re-joining. Ever since my former line manager dumped massive workloads on me as the only junior member of staff. He was also my union rep.
I also do not support calling staff out on a 15 day strike, as the leader of the UCU did, when she is not an academic herself and therefore still being paid.
How would a UCU member fight any disciplinary action for exercising freedom of speech on women’s rights if the UCU supports self-ID? Ditto any workplace actually, but academics are supposed to be thought-leaders.

Unanimous - does this mean the prison officers association voted in favour of self-ID? They seem to be affiliated to the TUC?

Does anyone know (or know how to find out, I’m not on Twitter) if the NUJ abstained?

Ever since my former line manager dumped massive workloads on me as the only junior member of staff. He was also my union rep.

I've also been in a position where my Head of Department was the department's union rep. The university tried to get him to step down from the union role but he refused. It seems UCU didn't have a problem with the obvious conflict of interest.

I note also that UCU has had precisely nothing to say about ongoing freedom of speech issues and the now widely-reported harassment and slurring of feminist academics.

Has UCU been asked to comment on what’s happening to academics? Genuine question.

"Never trusted them anyroads. Run by men for men"

This.

Trade unions have always been about men workers.

I can’t be the only left wing feminist who no longer feels welcome in her party or her union? Where do we go?

GenderApostate NEU prime inflencer? twitter.com/GEasterlowNEU

Oxfordterfarama - I've seen academics tweeting UCU to ask them to come out in support of academic freedom / feminist academics, but radio silence so far.

You're right. We need an active women's union

I’m up for this.
I’m a member of a union that I can’t imagine ever leaving but would welcome a serious union for women.

WPUK are on twitter arguing people should stay and fight.

Pilgrim Tucker has also tweeted she thinks this is something not thought through and that can and will be changed.

Or at least that is how I interpreted the Pilgrim Tucker tweet!

I suspect most don't know about it.

This NEU member certainly didn't, and I suspect I'm one of the few that actually reads the magazine. Bear in mind NEU covers the old ATL now as well so that's a LOT of people knowing nothing.

I read the NEU magazine as it still comes here instead of my teacher DD’s address. Terrifying to think a teaching union has decided that the rights of Girls aren’t important.

Is there a procedure for this being over turned?

Left Foot Forward on the TUC vote (brief): The TUC has just pledged to campaign on trans-friendly changes to Gender Recognition Act:
A motion pushing for a "simplified, free, statutory gender-recognition process based on self-declaration" was passed nem con.

leftfootforward.org/2018/09/the-tuc-has-just-committed-itself-to-campaign-on-trans-friendly-changes-to-gender-recognition-act/

pp. 31-32, motion 41

Congress notes the announcement on 3 July by the government that it will, finally,
be holding a consultation on changes to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2004.
As trade unionists we support trans workers rights, and as champions of equality we welcome the increased visibility and empowerment of transgendered and non- binary people in our society.
Congress calls on the government to take note of global best practice on gender recognition and to change the current processes for gender recognition that are lengthy, intrusive, humiliating and not fit for purpose.
Congress calls on the General Council to campaign for a simplified, free, statutory gender-recognition process based on self-declaration and to support rights for gender non-binary people at work and in wider society.
Congress welcomes the government’s commitment that the provisions in the Equality Act 2010 will remain. We support the right of all women (including trans women) to safe spaces and the continuation of monitoring that can help identify discrimination against women and men.
Congress looks forward to the introduction of a social rather than medical model of gender recognition that will help challenge repressive gender stereotypes in the workplace and in society.

From: TUC Agenda www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Consolidated_CompsMotions18.pdf

I feel that the TUC, oddly, does not understand the conflicts with the Equality Act 2010.

I heard this motion being described as woolly and pointless and not worth fighting over at this stage.

Glad FBU abstained, single sex changing facilities are vital for people who have to shower and change in the workplace.

Lucy Masoud is gonna be TRA public enemy number 1 today so send her some solidarity, if you can!

I feel that the TUC, oddly, does not understand the conflicts with the Equality Act 2010.

I think you are being generous. I think there are people within the TUC who understand full well, but want to remove sex as a protect characteristic and sex segregation. I can only speculate what their motives are.

I realise that my Tory voter’s cynicism may not be altogether welcome in this discussion but I do wonder whether TUC support for self Id is perhaps helpful. Outside confirmed left wing circles - and god knows they lost the plot on this long ago - the TUC is not generally regarded as a massively credible organisation. Indeed for many people to tell them the trade unions support something is often a reason for them to regard it with suspicion.
I like to look for silver linings. But I see this is awful and demoralising for female members.

We support the right of all women (including trans women) to safe spaces and the continuation of monitoring that can help identify discrimination against women and men.

It's like the Karen White case wasn't all over the press last week.