UNISON’s annual women’s conference opened today (Thursday) in Liverpool with a speech from general secretary Andrea Egan.
“As the first lay member to lead our union, I come to this role not from an office in headquarters, but from a lifetime of fighting as a trade unionist.
“Every lesson I’ve learned, every battle I’ve been at, has taught me one truth: when working‑class women organise, nothing can stop us,” she said.
Addressing conference delegates, she said, “You are the heart and conscience of our union.”
Ms Egan then went on to thank UNISON activists for the work they do in supporting members.
“Thank you – for every late‑night casework call, every motion written on your lunch break, every conversation that gave someone the courage to stay in work, to speak up, or to take action. You are extraordinary, and this union is stronger because of you.”
UNISON represents 1.3 million public service workers, the majority of whom are women. Many union members, Andrea acknowledged, have been hit hard by austerity and economic crises – especially low-paid women, disabled women, and Black women.
“Women make up the majority of the public service workforce, yet you bear the brunt of unsafe staffing levels, low pay, discrimination, and impossible workloads,” Andrea said.
“You are holding up the NHS through a workforce crisis. You are holding together local government services that have been cut to the bone. You are caring for the most vulnerable in social care, often on insecure contracts, too often without the respect or pay you deserve.
“And after all that, you go home and take on the lion’s share of caring responsibilities – for children, for older relatives, for families – stretched to breaking point. And women are still being pushed out of work after pregnancy. Whilst the gender pay gap widens.”
Nevertheless, Ms Egan reminded conference delegates of the union’s strength.
“UNISON women have transformed workplaces, changed legislation, and reshaped the national conversation. We have won improvements in pay, conditions, maternity rights, domestic abuse support, flexible working, and equality protections. And we have done it not by waiting politely, but by organising together.
“Women aren’t only members of our union – you are it, as activists, stewards, admin staff, branch secretaries, and community organisers. And our history proves it.
“It is quite fitting that we gather here in Liverpool. When the Liverpool dockers went on strike in 1995, a group called ‘Women of the Waterfront’ emerged. In a matter of weeks, these women entered the pages of our movement’s history. They travelled from hospital pickets to ports across the world, building support for the dockers. Their union card became their weapon. Their determination kept that dispute alive.
“Working‑class women have always been organisers, fighters, and leaders. From the phlebotomists in Gloucester, to the healthcare assistants who took on their hospital CEOs, to the Birmingham care workers who won their strike in 2019 – proof of women’s leadership is everywhere.
“And we know better than anyone how cuts and underfunding affect those we care for. And when governments refuse to invest in childcare, families, or public services, women feel it first. We cannot wait for anyone else to fight on our behalf. We must continue to take action.
“As your general secretary, I will be on the front lines opposing these cuts. But I cannot do this alone. I am not a boss or a politician — I am your voice. And a vote means nothing unless it is followed by action. So I ask you all: will you join me on our journey ahead?”
Standing together against division
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.
“As your general secretary, elected by you, I will work hard, working hand-in-hand with branches to ensure that Britain’s largest movement of working‑class women stands with all workers and is equipped to defend trans rights.”
The rise of Reform
Ms Egan went on to address the role that UNISON members play in defending public services from the threat posed by Reform UK.
“Right‑wing forces have disguised a class war as a culture war. Every moment workers spend pointing fingers at colleagues and neighbours is time stolen from fighting the true enemies. And it doesn’t have to be that way.
“We know our strength. It is not to beg – it is to stand united in solidarity. Lancashire women showed this when they stood firm against a Reform‑controlled council trying to close ten publicly owned care homes and day centres. Workers organised, the public rallied, and the council backed down. They knew that if even one resident had been moved, workers were ready to strike.
“Our union is ready to stand up to Reform wherever they threaten our rights. Our strength as a trade union does not come from loopholes in legislation. It comes from collective industrial power — achievable only when all workers unite under a credible plan to win.”
She also celebrated the Employment Rights Act 2025, which recently came into law, but made clear that UNISON must continue to fight to ensure its measures are upheld.
“Rights on paper are not the same as rights in practice,” she said. “UNISON members will enforce these rights workplace by workplace, employer by employer, ensuring that flexibility, safety, dignity, and fairness are real, enforceable rights for women.”
Ms Egan also expressed her support for the WASPI women, who are campaigning for compensation after the government raised the state pension age from 60 to 66.
“This is a generation of women treated with contempt and made to feel they count for nothing after decades of providing public service. Ministers must urgently rethink this decision.
“This union is filled with women who lead every day, often without calling yourselves leaders. You lead when you challenge an employer who says “that’s just how things are done.” You lead when you encourage someone to join. You lead when you speak up at a branch or public meeting, even if your voice shakes. You lead when you support another woman to step into a role she didn’t think she was good enough for.”
Ms Egan reaffirmed UNISON’s values on inclusion and diversity.
“Our movement must always be a home for all women – women of every background, race, ethnicity, faith, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Solidarity is not a slogan. It is a practice. It is how we build a movement that is powerful, united, and impossible to ignore.”
She closed her speech with a call to action. “Let’s go from here ready to take on employers who underestimate us, challenge systems that fail us, and build workplaces that respect, protect, and value every woman.”
“And let’s do what UNISON women have always done: Lead. Organise. Win. Let’s do it together.”
