Wondering how to make a complaint about the "equalities officer" for UNITE in Brighton...

[BjornTheFellHanded]

https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1gecsvp/how_can_trade_unions_help_trans_people_in_the_uk/

"How can trade unions help trans people in the uk?

Hey! I’m the equalities officer for my branch of UNITE the union in Brighton. I want to ask the trans community what we can do as a union to help trans people more.
• We’ve had a presence at trans pride both in the parade and also with a stall to give out materials about trans rights at work.
• I’m currently writing a letter to Wes Streeting challenging the puberty blockers ban and the awful state of trans healthcare.
• We’ve worked with other local groups such as Trans Liberation Front (TLF) to mobilise an effective counter protest to Posie Parker and other transphobic events in our city.
• I’m passing a motion to donate £200 to Trans Kids Deserve Better following their recent protests outside of the DfE and the LGB Alliance conference.
• We ran a successful event for IDAHOBIT where I gave a speech about the need to challenge the rise of the far right and anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
Any suggestions or advice on what more we can do would be really appreciated! 🏳️‍⚧️🚩
"

Just to be clear this means that UNITE are paying for crimes, paying to shut down debate and not allowing differing points of view, not what an equalities officer should be doing.

'Hi, can I just clarify as Equalities officer you'll be interested in my views on how trade unions can help women in the UK too?'

I imagine that you can complain by writing to the Union. I would gently suggest that if you make unfounded accusations of criminality and shutting down debate in response to a message to an online specifically trans community you are unlikely to get very far. There is nothing in that post that justifies those accusations.

Feel free to swamp them with graphs/pie charts showing numbers of women in senior leadership positions, the pay gap between male employees and female employees. How does the membership feel about SMP/ support in pregnancy and menopause? And what are they doing about their memberships views regarding the above?

An Equalities officer should be concerned with all 9 of the Protected Characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

Ask them about their work combating disability discrimination at work.

Are you a member of UNITE?
https://www.unitetheunion.org/member-complaints

Or write directly to the Gen Sec Sharon Graham.

All complaints should be submitted in writing to the office of the general secretary, Sharon Graham. The aim is to acknowledge receipt within a week and allocate a senior officer to investigate.

Just to add. The Equalities Officer should only be operating within existing Union policy.

There are a couple of things in the OP that strike me as being potentially outside of the Officer's brief. Her/his role should be Branch member led, and in accordance with National policy. They just can't make up stuff on the hoof. So for starters.

• I’m currently writing a letter to Wes Streeting challenging the puberty blockers ban and the awful state of trans healthcare

I don't think this is National/ Regional/ Branch/policy is it? Has the Branch debated and agreed to this being done? I doubt that the membership are aware of it.

• I’m passing a motion to donate £200 to Trans Kids Deserve Better following their recent protests outside of the DfE and the LGB Alliance conference.

Individuals don't pass motions, even if a Union Officer. It's a collective decision by the Branch members. The Officer can draft a motion, but it needs proposing and seconding, then putting before a Branch meeting. It needs debating and then to be voted upon. Individuals can't decide to send Members money willy nilly to organisations that the Union has not voted to endorse. Have a word with the Branch or Regional Treasurer on this.

• We’ve worked with other local groups such as Trans Liberation Front (TLF) to mobilise an effective counter protest to Posie Parker and other transphobic events in our city.
As above. Have the Members agreed to this?

Union Officers should work within their brief and according to existing policy or as mandated by Members according to union policy. They can't go maverick and make it up as they go along.

Copy that directly to Sharon Graham with your comments as an official complaint. She will know exactly what is acceptable and what isn't. She's no fool. It would appear that the Equalities Officer is off on a frolic of her/his own.

I think to blokes like Tom trans = woman, because it’s only ever about TW (who according to them are women), never about TM.

I imagine that you can complain by writing to the Union. I would gently suggest that if you make unfounded accusations of criminality and shutting down debate in response to a message to an online specifically trans community you are unlikely to get very far. There is nothing in that post that justifies those accusations.

Are you aware of the LGB Alliance "protest" being boasted about? And that the organisation this person wants to give money to have pledged to do it again?

Do you have any evidence to back up any of these claims?

I'm not making any "claims". I know how unions work. You don't seem to.

Just as an aside, I always find it grimly fascinating to check the Gender pay gap reporting for organisations which have decided to ignore and demonise their female membership.

As expected -

gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/EmployerReport/LIAx2dx0/2023

This. A factual, measured response will be the most fruitful.

I know how unions work. You just have to be careful making complaints about people that write letters in a personal capacity and submit motions to branch meetings. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that

The Equality officer hasn’t done any of this in a personal capacity, they’re acting in their professional capacity under the Union and have said they’ve passed a motion not submitted one.

I think these are very good points to raise.

If that Reddit post is really from the equalities officer then this person is communicating in such a way that presents their role as having more power than a trade union role should have. It may not be intentional. It still is open for that interpretation though.

And I do think that organising ‘protests’ to drown out the words of women speaking about their concerns is counter to the role of equalities officer. Rather it shows a distinct bias that the role should not have. It certainly sends a message that the union is not willing to find equitable solutions to the unique needs of all female people- women with unique needs derived from having a body formed around production of large gametes.

That Reddit post has a chilling effect for any female Unite union member who thinks female people should have a union who seeks to find equitable solutions and protect female people’s sexed based rights.

It does @Hellebore and it's interesting that those taking issue with me have clearly no idea how a Branch motion should work, or the role of a trade union officer. Despite the bluster.

I won't be back to the thread as the OP hasn't returned. It's not my Branch nor Region.

However, I'm sure Sharon Graham will be made aware of what's going on, and appoint a senior officer to look the circumstances and conduct an investigation if appropriate.

Yes, I was surprised. I think the Reddit post is written in a way that is concerning and no more ‘evidence’ is needed. A letter showing the full post (can it be archived?) highlighting the points raised and the writer’s own words is entirely sufficient and appropriate.

I don’t think UNITE will find any issues with someone that wants to table a branch motion at the next branch meeting to donate some money to a group that matches UNITEs aims. If it passes than that’s the will of the branch members.

I suspect a personally invested union officer with a poor understanding of their role and a distaste for safeguarding children and women's rights may have joined the thread??
Or perhaps "Steve" is getting to grips with Mumsnet?

x.com/jk_rowling/status/1851392515913724320

I reckon that raising the issue with Unite as the OP wishes to do should not be controversial. What would be controversial would be someone telling a member of their union to not raise the concerns that they had. Or to not discuss that they, a union member, felt that there would be negative repercussions from raising a concern about the behaviour of a position holder within the union.

I reckon that would be rather controversial. It would be continuing the 'chilling effect' that has been already discussed on this thread.

this really made me laugh...

Oh him.
Nuff said.
https://salfordcityunison.org.uk/directory

OllieT aka….Tom?

Tom rather than Steve I think, different union.