Unison elections - female only seats are not so

[FrodoTheBlueWhippet]

Disappointed to receive ballot papers from Unison today for their upcoming elections.

Why is it acceptable to have men standing in the Disabled Members' Seats Female Seat??

Unions no longer support women. We have to start our own

Is it limited to women only candidates in the rules or just supposed to represent women and traditionally only female candidates have stood?

I’m not saying it’s acceptable either way, but if the rules limit who can stand you may have legal options.

Isn’t that against the law in Britain? If they say it is a female seat, and they put a male forward for it.

Same as if they put forward someone without a disability, in the Disabled Members’ seat.

Is that legal? Surely the supreme court ruling means that if it is categorised as a female/women's seat, something they are allowed do in order to reach a legitimate aim of more equal representation, it must only be open to females/women as to do otherwise would discriminate against males/men who are not trans identifying?

Edited: I don't know how I ended up quoting you. It was just meant to be a reply.

Surely to goodness this is pretty much directly analagous to the issue the clarification was in relation to? (Women’s representation on boards).

Maybe get it some publicity. They’re a big Union, and it is not good that they appear to be shafting women. After all, the SC ruling was widely reported, and Unison are discriminating against women. They should be exposed for this.

I think in this instance, it is men who are not trans identifying who they are discriminating against.

There are quite a few organisations who are fighting discrimination against women. It would be good to send screenshots of the ballot paper, and they may amplify it.

Is it a national board, or local representation? Post a screenshot here, and maybe someone can pick it up. I presume the candidates are not a secret.

I understand what you are saying. However, if it is, first and foremost, a seat for a woman, are they not directly discriminating against the women for whom that seat is intended.

I presume any man can ‘identify’ as a woman and run for (steal) the women’s seat.

They’re doing that too, but primarily discriminating against women who are not getting proper representation.

Unison recently voted at conference to agree that transwomen are women.
I need to change union

Is it limited to women only candidates in the rules or just supposed to represent women and traditionally only female candidates have stood? The ballot papers didn't come with the rules...but seeing as there's also a Disabled Members' Seats General Seat I'd have thought it's meant to be female only?

Unison recently voted at conference to agree that transwomen are women.
I need to change union
I'll be having to move too then.

I'll try and post photos

Ah, ok. I’ve found the person of the male sex who is running to take a seat for (from) someone of the female sex.

https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2025/04/NEC-2025-notice-of-election-Contested-seats.pdf

I thought this was deemed to be illegal (by the Supreme Court ruling) as it is for a protected characteristic. Well, two in this case. He may be disabled (I don’t know whether he is or not). However, he is certainly not a woman, or female in this case. He remains his biological sex.

Photos hopefully attached, there are more pages with 2 more female candidates

https://freespeechunion.org/trade-union-accused-of-silencing-women-by-pushing-trans-rights-agenda/

I'm sure all candidates are perfectly nice people, I would just like to have Female Seats reserved for actual females. In light of the Supreme Court ruling I'd say I'm definitely not unreasonable.

*Bigearringsbigsmile *
Thank you. I had no idea Unison were so breathtakingly cavalier with the rights of half the population.

Unison can gaslight women in passing motions that they believe that men are women if they claim to be. However, I thought the SC said that things for women and female have to be for that biological sex. Not some dude everyone if fawning over at the expense of women.

There are many perfectly lovely men. They are not entitled to a seat reserved for a biological woman, though.

That directly contravenes the law as clarified by the Supreme Court.

If they offer a Women's Seat, it can only be for 'biological women' as set out in the ruling. If trans identifying men (with or without a GRC) can apply as "women" that discriminates against all other men because it is no longer a sex based segregation.

So either it's for only actual women or absolutely anyone can stand for that seat. There is no legal halfway measure that includes transwomen and real women following the ruling.

Looks like the rules are here:
https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2024/12/Election-procedures.pdf

12. Only members from specified categories, such as female seats and low pay reserved seats, can be nominated for those seats.

Questions and contact information
70. If you would like any information or further explanation about this procedure or the
election, you can contact the Member Liaison Unit using the details below.
Phone: 0207 121 5399
E-mail: [email protected]

Calling @knottyauty in case her Telegraph journalist might be interested?

Maybe before tearing up your ballot papers, vote for a legitimate candidate? How many ways is the vote for this post split? You’d hope that among the rank and file, people can spot who shouldn’t be standing.

This^
You need to call this out as not legal/send it to the press.
Theres another thread on here with someone collecting evidence of organisations flaunting the law