UNISON’s women’s conference in Liverpool celebrated the power of working-class women’s collective strength - and trans inclusion

[IwantToRetire]

A key focus of Ms Egan’s speech was the union’s position on advocating for the union’s trans members in a hostile political climate.
“As a union we have always stood for equality – for women, for Black members, for disabled members, for LGBT+ members, for all who face discrimination.

“And I want to be absolutely clear: I stand proudly and unequivocally in defence of LGBT+ rights. And I am a proud trans ally. Equality is not negotiable. And discrimination in any form has no place in our union, in our workplaces or in society.

“Your conference last year, and our national delegate conference, reaffirmed our commitment to trans rights. And we needed that clarity, because the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act has had a profound impact on our trans, non‑binary, and gender‑diverse members.

“We cannot hide from it. We cannot pretend it doesn’t matter. But we can fight to change the law when it comes to legal gender recognition.
“Nobody should have their dignity taken away because of the sex they were deemed to be at birth. Too many countries have moved forward on gender recognition while the UK falls behind. That must change and UNISON can be at the front leading that change and making that change happen.

“Let me say this from the heart: there is no contradiction between the rights of one worker and another. The only contradiction is between workers and employers. And no stroke of a pen in Westminster will silence us or weaken our defence of the working class – a working class that is diverse, made up of people of all backgrounds, nationalities, and genders.

“Our UNISON branches turned out in force to support trans rights when the ruling was handed out with one clear message: when trans rights are under attack, we stand up and we fight back.

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2026/02/when-working-class-women-organise-nothing-can-stop-us/

The speech itself is quite long, but I thought worth highlighting this bit.

Isn’t ’risking jobs and livelihoods’ the whole point of the union movement - that everyone risks their job by standing together to force change in the hope/expectation that employers won’t want to lose their whole workforce? Isn’t that what striking is all about?

Yet again, that handy Queering of language, you can be an antisemitic misogynist who throws LGB people under the bus, & self-styled "Progressives" will laud you as a beacon of "kindness & inclusivity".

No. It’s not - hth

its about raising the standards for everyone.
and at some point - they have got incredibly lost - but if you actually expect a very staunch feminist to lose her job and but her kids home at risk: - you need to go take a long hard look in the mirror:

I can sleep at night.

You can’t call a strike until you have agreement from
50%. We’re not there yet. You’re expecting us to risk losing our jobs for what result exactly?

I must admit, I am a bit shocked by some of the comments on here. Nobody can expect others to put their jobs at risk, it just isn't worth it. I was a whistleblower 25 years ago, against a large firm in the City. I put my entire livelihood at risk, including future employment. My wife even questioned why I did it. Well, it was because I was working in finance and the management were breaking the regulations. If I hadn't informed the regulating body and we were investigated, then I would have carried the blame, which may have included criminal charges.
So, to you and Whenindoubthugitout, don't risk your jobs, because Unison has around 1,200 staff and you would be tilting at windmills.

But this misses the point that everyone is trying to make.

Union members are not standing together.

Union members are attacking and silencing women who have gender critical views.

This sort of fantasist presentation of unions hasn't existed for decades and for women never did.

As an approach if flies in the face of reality.

Where were the unions when nurses were asking for their rights.

It also flies in the face of the daily reality of both social and mainstream media.

If you make any sort of public statement about women's sex based rights or assert that TW aren't women, you will be silenced and more than likely excluded from the magic circle of the closed group that has power.

'There should be no expectation the average Union will want to take the side of women over men. That isn't how the collective male left thinks.'

This is absolutely true.

'its about raising the standards for everyone.
and at some point - they have got incredibly lost - but if you actually expect a very staunch feminist to lose her job and but her kids home at risk: - you need to go take a long hard look in the mirror:
I can sleep at night.'

@Whenindoubthugitout

Unbelievable that you would invite someone else to take a 'long hard look in the mirror'.

You're not a very staunch feminist. And you're not raising standards for anyone but yourself. You're a careerist handmaiden in complete denial. That's why you can sleep at night.

Plenty of women have left those "jobs" without losing their houses and being unable to feed their children. You just doubt your ability to earn the same wage elsewhere and it sounds like you probably should.

The trade unions have always been places where thickos and enablers can steal a living if they're willing to close their eyes to what really happens there.

They pay decent enough wages to women like you because they know you will play their games for them in return.
That's what you're actually doing. Shame on you.

Is there anywhere that gender realist UNISON members can meet and gather? Or even ex members? I’m getting fed up of paying my subs, and working far, far above my pay grade as a rep and branch officer, to be told that I’m a bigot and must not speak about my beliefs.

So many women would not have their jobs if it wasn’t for my advice and assistance in my union role. But I left the Labour Party and they seemed to find people to deliver their leaflets and donate boring thankless jobs, so I expect UNISON will manage without me.

Well is this is typical of UNISON public statements suspect many women will be keeping their heads down.

https://kcl.unison.site/2025/08/07/statement-on-the-sex-equality-and-equity-network-trans-gender-diverse-and-non-binary-solidarity/

There might be a SEEN network that covers your sector; https://seen-network.uk/other-seens/

As to Labour, round here they're having to import leafleters from the posh burbs. There used to be plenty of members on this estate who were happy to do grunt work but AFAICT, we've all left the Party due to the insanity of middle class hyper individualists with no material analysis.

So basically, screw you, women, is the message. I don't think for a moment that that's what most trades-unionists think, women and men, but I realise it doesn't work like that.

I would question whether or not you have left a job, just for "the cause".
I think you need to look at these current figures.
There are currently 1.84 million people over the age of 16 who are unemployed in the UK, that is an increase of 280K over the last year.
There are currently around 734K job vacancies in the UK, a decrease of 69K compared to the previous year.
In the present economic climate, anyone who simply jacks in their job, to make a point, particularly if they are risking their house and children's future, well, they need to have a long, hard think about what they are doing, because IMHO that is a very reckless action.
It won't make a blind bit of difference to the way Unison treats its women employees.

What women’s conference was it I went to where we were advised NOT to lose your job over it? Was it Maya talking? Saying that it isn’t helpful to anyone to martyr yourself for the cause. And understanding that women have responsibilities where a job loss could cause utter devastation to them and their families.

I’ve been in Labour, and left. I’m more wedded to UNISON and have tried, and am trying, to ask questions. But I can’t smash the patriarchy by myself, especially not when the people in my branch who elected me don’t want it smashed! It’s nice for them to feel like everything’s sorted for women, and they’re doing their bit for the poor QT+++ people.

There isn’t a SEEN I could join and I don’t feel string enough to start one. Well done to Alice Sullivan though, for the KCL one! That UNISON response is just one reason why they are going to get a lot less of my boring woman energy.

It comes down to integrity. At what point can you no longer do your job and maintain your integrity? We all have to decide that point for ourselves but unless we are prepared to walk away from an income at some point we have no integrity. Even in extremis, there are things I won’t do - I won’t sell illegal drugs or pimp women’s bodies, I refuse to work in a scam call centre, or promote ideologies I think are harmful. But it doesn’t need to be that extreme before I would look for alternative employment, including taking a pay cut if necessary.

That is different from staying somewhere because we think we can effect change but even then we need to be honest with ourselves about if we can.

What a stupid stupid woman!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Not putting our jobs at risk? Are you for real? Have you seen what happened to Sandie Pegg and the Darlington Nurses ? I have been reported and complained about several times for transphobia by people in your Trade Union for raising issues regarding same sex spaces. Fortunately, it didn't go very far but it could of . I was also reported to my regulating body at one point over "think of the poor twans children" but it went nowhere.

I dont think it is fair or reasonable for any woman to give up their job, in this econmic climate because of their views on this issue.

Infact, although I hate this word, it is a 'privileged' position. Most women work because they need an income. The lucky ones may get a job that is consistant with their world view, or allows them to do something they love.

But deep down, most organisations, public sector, private or charitable sector have a certain amount of rottoness. Because they are run by people, inperfect, defensive, incompetent, ambitious, sometimes scared people.

Maya said along the lines of (and I am probably misquoting) you should bring your proffessional self to work rather than your whole self.

Surely this applies to the people on this forum as much as the dodgy door knocking comms bloke.

(Apologies for the typos)

It would be less contemptuous if they just spat in their members faces.

Just to be clear, “activists” within branches are not paid by UNISON and still pay their subs like any other member. They are paying for the privilege of doing their bit on top of their paid job,

unions do not always act on what their members tell them they want. That is how they SHOULD operate but it’s not always the case. PCS has form for rejecting pay offers without giving their membership the chance to vote on the offer.

Is it financed by the Christian Right?

Finding another job and then leaving is different to losing your job for speaking out. There are other equivalent opportunities for confident, competent people. There are also less well paid roles which will develop into better ones if you're not too special to change your lifestyle for a short time. Unions don't pay a fortune they pay just enough for enough people to not be able to believe their luck.

The talk of working tirelessly and starving children is part of the drama and self gaslighting which the whole thing runs on. The assumption that anyone expects martyrdom (give me strength 🙄) also plays into the group delusion that noble work is being done. Please do not be a martyr on anyone's account, just stop joining in.

There is also no need to speak out 'for the cause'. There is no cause. The cause is lost because people are too selfish and stupid to act collectively and prefer to participate in the huge lie the unions are because it serves them. That makes them complicit however they tell it to themselves.

That's where the emotional cost is. Knowing that you're playing pick and mix with your values and enabling corruption and the abuse of women will impact your mental health. @IsThisTheReaLife People are 'scared' of nothing more than driving an older car and having to to do an actual day's work instead of fucking around running pointless talking shops. That is not 'working tirelessly'. It's lying to yourself and others about the fact that you are nothing but a relatively well paid hostage.

I don't know. Who are they?

The one's who financed their legal team. I don't know what they're called. Just wondering if they've put up the money to start the Union.