- Conference
- 2025 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 17 October 2024
- Decision
- Carried
After a groundbreaking year for LGBT+ workers in 2024, where we saw LGBT+ visibility shine, and the adoption of a stunning rule change at the 2024 national delegate conference to ensure that non-binary members can stand for our national executive council’s regional seats, we cannot allow LGBT+ workers’ rights to slide backwards. Following the years of young members, disabled members and the year of Black workers it is vital to keep up the progress made in celebrating intersectionality in all its forms.
In a union with 1 million women workers, we have seen how intersectionality is woven into our very fabric. Women are the backbone of our union, and it is the women who can, and do, lead the way, embracing members in all their intersectional identities, and ensuring that all members of our great union have a voice, and have a place.
UNISON has a long-standing commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within the workplace and society at large. This has been demonstrated in recent years by the dedicated efforts of UNISON to support and advocate for young members, disabled, Black and LGBT+ workers. During these years UNISON members have been reminded of the importance of recognising and addressing the unique challenges faced by members who belong to multiple marginalised groups, through an intersectional approach. Being able to self-organise in how we individually identify is the strength of UNISON.
We have seen how celebrating the contributions and achievements of young members, disabled, Black, and LGBT+ workers is essential to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. Organising for change, whilst linking in with UNISON’s national and local campaigns is strengthened by supporting our unique intersectionalities. Intersectionality is a critical framework for understanding how various aspects of a person’s identity combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and privilege. UNISON’s efforts to embrace intersectionality through our self-organised groups (SOGs) have strengthened our ability to advocate effectively for all members, ensuring that no one is left behind.
By celebrating the achievements of young members, disabled, Black, and LGBT+ workers, and by embracing intersectionality, we can build a stronger, more inclusive UNISON. Together, we stand united in our commitment to equality and justice for all.
Now more than ever we need the strength of our women members to speak out in solidarity and support for LGBT+ equality. All around the world LGBT+ workers’ rights are being eroded and LGBT+ people’s very existence are being driven underground with draconian laws and right wing aggression.
In order for women to thrive in all our self-organised groups, conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to:
• continue to celebrate and highlight the achievements and contributions of women, young members, disabled, Black, and LGBT+ workers within UNISON.
• continue to prioritise intersectional approaches in all organising, campaigning, advocacy and support efforts, ensuring that the specific needs of those with intersecting identities are addressed within the regional women’s and national structures.
• continue to organise events, campaigns, and educational initiatives that promote awareness and understanding of intersectionality, and its importance in the fight for equality and inclusion, ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to avoid holding meetings with women at the same time as other SOG groups are meeting.
• encourage all branches to actively engage with, and support initiatives aimed at improving the working conditions and rights of disabled workers, Black workers, women, young members, and LGBT+ workers.
• reaffirm UNISON’s commitment to creating a union where diversity is celebrated, and all members can thrive without fear of discrimination or exclusion.
• continue to promote self-organisation as the key to a healthy robust union.
• advocate for the organising to win strategy to be closely aligned with our equalities agenda as a powerful tool in all UNISON campaigns.