PCS Union Conference had 2 motions saying Cass Review was just woke war - one brave woman spoke against both - Jan Baxter

[IwantToRetire]

Most of this on on Xtwitter, and a bit hard to follow.

But here is a thread reader which I think explains clearly what happened (and acknowledges the brilliant t-shirt worn by this brave speaker!).

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1793388305838457280.html

(If any one as more info, or an easier to access source please to add. Just thought that this heroine should not go unacknowledged)

Unfortunately the videos aren't playing but sending her strength and solidarity ❤️

That may be because they are in the thread reader. If you are on twitter you may be able to play from there (I'm only guessing) https://x.com/Fiona44444/status/1793388305838457280

They just worked fine for me out of the thread-reader.

A civil service union, with a majority of women members (despite the annual conference is mostly attended by men of course) allowed emergency motions that trashed the veracity of the Cass review and went on to effectively gag women from speaking out on these issues.

No wonder Union membership is in decline.

Wow. Just read that the motion passed! What has happened to Unions that such a crock of dishonest, lying crap, can be passed? That’s truly shocking.

It’s like Unions are returning to their misogynistic origins.

Gets more Harry Enfield by the minute.

She is very brave, and the Union should be ashamed of itself.

Thanks for bringing this to attention. I’m a member of this union but haven’t been paying much attention as I’m off on maternity leave.

It’s just complete word salad what they’ve written. Also, I assume by outside the UK they’re talking about radical ideologues in the US.

Disgusting behaviour from this Union but well done to Jan Baxter for speaking out. I don't want to preach to anyone but what is the point of paying membership to a union that is not there for us? I walked from mine and still undecided if I would join any other.

I've just cancelled my union subscription.

Good! hope you let them know why

The last vote on striking for better wages didn’t get enough turn out to pass so I can’t imagine a strike for so called anti-trans measures would pass a vote to membership.

Her speech was so good.

I hope others dont have problems with the video link, as she speaks so clearly, and in a straight forward no nonsense manor. (The problem maybe the videos are actully hosted on Xtwitter.)

So sobering that these motions even got platformed, but worse still that they were passed.

More mission drift coming from civil servants?

"PCS is the largest trade union in the civil service, representing workers in the public sector as well as commercial and private sector workers who work on government contracts."

How many GC members will feel confident they will get proper union support should they need it?

If anyone is looking for a Union not infested with idiocy and that understands it is there to represent the interests of its members at work, may I recommend Affinity Union. It’s an independent Union.

Hello Fiona here from the thread I want to appeal to you all to stay in your unions and help us fight it. Women like Jan need your support. What would be better would be to recruit, take union positions and oust the ideologues.

How many GC members will feel confident they will get proper union support should they need it?

About half a year ago the union said they would support GC people in any tribunals etc and referenced Maya Forstater. I remember as there was quite a lot of argument on the post. I imagine you’d have to do some research on reps as there are some I know wouldn’t have my back in this issue.

And at a local branch level, if you happen to have a branch/region that has been literally taken over and frankly toxic then it would be very difficult to make any inroads. Sorry to be so negative.

Thanks for posting on Xtwitter in a way that made sense (well not "sense" but what happened).

Is there a write up or the videos elsewhere, as not everyone is on Xtwitter and would be good to spread as widely as possible.

Good to see dinosaurs are fighting back against extinction!!

Brava to Jan for her courage, and Fiona for your resolve.

I see that amongst the multiple instructions included in one of the motions is one which gives them cover for protesting at LWS events, so it won’t be a disciplinary matter for those who display PCS flags when trying to drown out women’s voices.

I was there and was one of the handful of people who voted with Jan (and I mean handful, I know there were 3 of us in the room). I felt so damn depressed when I left, but it’s important that we stay, we turn up and we vote - we can’t let them win, and we can’t let them blindside everyone because they have hurt feelings so we should ignore the facts. Ugh.

The wording of A317 is interesting in places and I suspect they haven’t thought it through….

“Oppose the introduction of policies in the UK civil service which remove or undermine the rights of minorities and/or allies, including any attempt to politicise our lives or identities”.

So that’s PCS committed to opposing Stonewall then, surely? Stonewall has spent the best part of the last decade politicising identities, particularly the right of lesbians to identify as same-sex oriented not same-gender oriented.

“to oppose any form of biological reductionism or dehumanisation and its manifestations that can centre on…gender identity…or any other protected characteristic”

Sex is a protected characteristic. So that’s PCS committed to opposing the words “uterus owners” “menstruators” “birthing parent” “gestating parent” etc then, surely?

Fiona, I'm mindful of Lucy Easthope's advice although it's more about workplaces. Is your perception that the PCS isn't in this wretched a state as yet?

"If you are being managed by a woman like Vennells right now, in an organisation that you think might be a bit conspirey and toxic then my strongest advice to you is GET OUT NOW
Do not try and tackle her. Do not try and stay and fix it. Know all your rights but find yourself something different, get a great reference and leave with dignity as soon as as possible. Let nothing these Scolds say to us even penetrate your outer skin
When these people are at their most potent and their leverage with others is most needed they are immovable.
I will never be convinced that you can effect change while the organisation is still in its denial phase or that you can ever effectively whistleblow from within. This is very relevant if your organisation right now is the NHS

Thread: https://x.com/LucyGoBag/status/1793891741365313737

It's a different situation than being in a workplace because members can and do effect change. The biggest challenge is making your way through the bureaucracy. If you can get your hands on the constitution and rules and really know them your onto a winner. Gaining support in your workplace is important genuine change is built it in ones and two's not normally en masse. There are relatively few Trans Rights Activists and very few are actually Trans or care about trans people so you could make significant changes in your union Branch by becoming a rep.

Jan Baxter is a legend. She’s brave and articulate and doesn’t back down from a fight for women’s rights.

Strong T-shirt choices, too