- Conference
- 2022 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 22 September 2022
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference believes that one of UNISON’s strengths lies in its recognition of the value and unique experiences LGBT+ people bring to the workplace and to our union and commends the work of UNISON’s LGBT+ committee to raise the profile of its LGBT+ membership across the United Kingdom (UK).
Conference notes that some LGBT+ people still do not feel able to disclose their sexual orientation and/or gender identity at work for fear of discrimination. It is concerning that some employers are afraid to visibly speak out in favour of LGBT+ workers due to myths and misconceptions perpetrated by anti-LGBT+ and trans groups.
Conferences notes the success of 2021 the Year of the Young Worker which raised awareness around the issues that young members face and 2022 the Year of Disabled Workers raising awareness of the disability pay gap, disability employment gap, reasonable adjustments, accessibility passports and the importance of disclosure. Events held in respect of these were well attended and received positive feedback.
Conference notes that 2024 will be 50 years since the lesbian and gay network ‘NALGAY’ was set up in our predecessor union the national and local government officers’ association (NALGO). This was ground-breaking within the trade union movement and helped to lead to the first lesbian gay self-organised groups in a trade union. When UNISON was formed in 1993, the lesbian and gay self-organised group was integral to the union structure and right at the beginning the national committee had reserved seats for representatives of Black and disabled members.
Over the years, we have seen our self-organised group go from strength to strength becoming a LGBT group and then in 2019, becoming a LGBT+ group.
UNISON LGBT+ self-organised group has been key to many campaigns to improve the rights of LGBT+ people within the workplace and wider society and we have witnessed milestones including the repeal of section 28, equalisation of the age of consent, the introduction of civil partnerships and marriage for LGBT+ people. But there is still more to do.
Conference believes that 2024 should be the UNISON Year of LGBT+ workers to coincide with 50 years since the formation of NALGAY. Conference believes that this will provide the opportunity to raise awareness of LGBT+ rights throughout the union, deliver events, challenge discrimination, promote UNISON as the union for LGBT+ workers, and promote the LGBT+ self-organised group, grow LGBT+ activists and bargain on LGBT+ rights in the workplace.
Conference calls on the national LGBT+ committee to urge the wider union to make 2024 the Year of LGBT+ Workers in UNISON and to seek support from the Trades Union Congress and other unions to support the initiative.