- Conference
- 2025 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 13 June 2025
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that the recent Supreme Court ruling on how “sex” should be interpreted under the Equality Act 2010 has caused real and deep concern for Trans people.
Whilst the Court was keen to stress the limitations of the ruling it is not yet clear the full impacts that interpretation of it will have.
There is already clear evidence of the potential detrimental impacts, particularly on older Trans people. For example, research shows that already older Trans people may be deterred from accessing services, including critically health services, because of fears of how they may be perceived and treated.
We welcome the lead that UNISON’s Women’s Committee has taken in calling for UNISON to continue to fight for more rights for all and to stand in solidarity with Trans people. We endorse their call to respect that “Trans women are women and Trans men are men, all our LGBT+ comrades must be respected.”
We call on the National Retired Members Committee to:
1) Work with the National Women’s Committee, the National LGBT+ Committee, and the NEC to protect the rights of Trans members as part of ensuring that all our rights are protected, respected, and strengthened.
2) Seek to ensure that the particular impacts on older Trans people are highlighted within that and that support is offered to them.
3) Make UNISON Trans ally training available to retired members and encourage its’ use as part of retired members training events.