LGBT+ members
Supreme Court Ruling on legal definition of a woman
Following the ruling in April 2025, the UNISON transgender workers’ rights factsheet, trans equality model policy and non-binary workers fact sheet have been reviewed by legal experts and are back on the UNISON website, with minimal changes made to them.
We have full confidence in our guidance and encourage all branches to use these when negotiating trans policies in their workplaces.
UNISON policy is clear – trans men are men, trans women are women and non-binary identities are valid and we advocate inclusive workplaces for all members.
If your employer is changing workplace policies around trans, non-binary and gender diverse issues, please get in touch with your region in the first instance and send a copy of it to out@unison.co.uk, so we can track changes, share best practice and challenge discrimination wherever it occurs.
Please note the following updated resources:
- Updated trans model policy
- Updated trans worker rights
- LGBT+ workers abroad
- Updated non-binary factsheet
These are also available via the resources section at the bottom of the LGBT+ equalities page.
UNISON LGBT+ conference
UNISON’s LGBT+ conference takes place in Edinburgh between 21 & 23 November 2025. Details for the conference will be on the conference section of the UNISON website soon.
Please note when registering your branch delegation, that only members who identify as LGBT+ are eligible to attend – as much as we appreciate our allies, this conference is not for them.
The key dates are:
- 1 August 2025 Deadline for submission of motions
- 29 August 2025 Deadline for submission of delegates
- 26 September 2025 Deadline for submission of amendments to motions
Network meetings
In the lead up to LGBT+ conference, we hold network meetings for Bi+ members, Black LGBT+ members, disabled LGBT+ members and trans, non-binary and gender diverse members. This is the opportunity to meet with other members of the network, talk about issues that affect you in the workplace and agree motions to our conference.
Leading up to LGBT+ conference, there are separate national meetings for bisexual+ members, trans, non-binary and gender diverse members, disabled LGBT+ members and Black LGBT+ members. Part of the purpose of these meetings is to agree motions from these groups to LGBT+ Conference. It also a great opportunity to meet other members of the network and talk about issues that affect them in the workplace. All four meetings are hybrid, taking place in the UNISON West Midlands regional office and on Teams. Registration is essential. All members of the networks are encouraged to attend.
| Bisexual+ members
|
Birmingham | Thursday, 10 July 2025, 10.30amd – 1.00pm Bi+ members network meeting |
| Trans, non-binary & gender diverse members
|
Birmingham | Thursday, 10 July 2025, 2.00 – 4.30pm Transgender, non-binary and gender diverse members network meeting |
| Black LGBT+ members | Birmingham | Friday, 11 July 2025, 10:30am – 1:00pm |
| Disabled LGBT+ members
|
Birmingham | Monday, 11 July 2022, 2:00 – 4:30pm |
Pride events
We are moving into Pride season, and we encourage all branches to work with their regional LGBT+ groups and attend local Pride events. Many local prides are very small, align with UNISON’s view that Pride is a Protest and welcome trade union involvement! A great opportunity to have a fun day, give the branch banner an airing, and very importantly, to talk to people about the benefits of joining a trade union and a recruit them into membership!
Disabled members
PIP changes – we need to hear from members
The union urgently needs to hear from disabled members about how the government’s changes to PIPs (Personal Independent Payments) will affect them. Please ask your members to get in touch now.
Three ways members can help:
1. Complete our survey about your PIP payments. If you need this survey in different formats or help completing, please contact Katrina Gilman k.gilman@unison.co.uk.
2. Provide detail on how these cuts will affect you in more details by emailing disabilityissues@unison.co.uk.
3. If you are not affected by changes but know a UNISON member who is, please encourage them to complete the survey or get in touch with us
For more information: https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2025/05/changes-to-pips-we-need-to-hear-from-you
Disabled members network meetings
These national meetings are an great opportunity for disabled members from underrepresented groups to have an opportunity to network and identify motions to submit to national disabled members conference.
Please us the links below to register for the relevant network meeting(s) you would like to join.
Wednesday 25 June
Thursday 26 June
Wednesday 6 August
Thursday 7 August
Disabled members branch officer training – 3 September 2025 10.00am – 4.00pm
Are you a Disabled Members Branch Officer or Contact or a disabled member who wants to get more active in your branch?
Register for the one day Disabled Members Branch Officer training:
Women members
Removing barriers to gender equality
To mark International Women’s Day, the National Women’s Committee organised a webinar on ‘Removing barriers to gender equality’.
Watch the recording of the webinar on ‘Removing barriers to gender equality’ by clicking on the recording link.
To view the recording you will need to then input the following passcode: 7m3EfE=N
Menopause is a workplace issue
An updated version of the “Menopause is a workplace issue” guide has been produced. This is a comprehensive guide for staff and branch activists designed to assist branches in ensuring that organisations consider how menopause symptoms can impact on workers experiencing the menopause. Download the guide here: https://www.unison.org.uk/the-menopause-is-a-workplace-issue/
Black members
2025 National Black members conference
The rescheduled national Black members conference took place from 9-11 May in Brighton. Read about some of the stories from the conference below:
The union is your shield against discrimination
In a wide-ranging speech at UNISON’s Black members conference, Christina McAnea highlights the challenges of discrimination, the rise of the far right and the plight of migrant workers
Highlighting the fact that the NHS and social care would have collapsed long ago without overseas staff
The ethnicity pay gap must end
The law must change so employers have to report their pay gaps and disparities can be tackled
Young members
National Delegate Conference | Motions, amendments and young members meeting
National Delegate Conference (NDC) is taking place from 17-20 June in Liverpool and the National Young Members Forum (NYMF) has two motions and two amendments on the final agenda, although the outcome of the prioritisation ballot/process will determine when these might be debated.
NYMF motions
- Motion 7 – Engagement, Education and Retention of Apprentices
- Motion 8 – Support for Young Single Mothers
NYMF amendments:
- Amendment 22.1 – Divest Our Pension Fund
- Amendment 32.2 – Public Services, Living Standards, and the Economy After the 2024 General Election
There is also a meeting for young members at NDC on Tuesday 17 June from 12:45-13:45, details will be in the conference guide.
National Young Members Conference 2025
This year’s National Young Members Conference will take place in Brighton from Friday 28 – Saturday 30 November 2025/
Each region may send ten delegates to the conference, at least five of which must be women.
Young Members wishing to attend Young Members Conference should contact their Young Members Regional Contact by 5pm, Thursday, 28 August 2025.
Each region can also send a maximum of 4 visitors to Conference.
There is more information in the conference bulletin including deadlines and guidance on motions submission and how to request reasonable adjustments using OCS (Online Conference System).
If you have any queries, you can email your regional contact, the conference team | conferences@unison.co.uk or y.members@unison.co.uk
Retired members
Retired members branch training
We’re happy to inform you that a new branch retired training package is under development and will soon be ready for introduction across the regions. This will provide guidance, skills and case studies to help set up new – and further develop existing – branch retired member’ groups. Look out for more information in the next newsletter!