Tory attack on trans rights and validity

During the recent Conservative Party conference several Conservative cabinet ministers gave speeches in which they attacked the transgender community. The Prime Minister said that the British public were being “bullied” into believing that “people can be any sex they want to be.” The Home Secretary said that “Trans women have no place in women’s wards […]

Year of LGBT+ workers – Embedding LGBT+ equality in our union

Conference notes that we are halfway through celebrating the Year of LGBT+ Workers and welcomes the opportunity that this provides to promote UNISON as the union for LGBT+ workers, raise awareness of LGBT+ rights throughout the union, challenge discrimination, and recruit and activate LGBT+ members. The year highlights the important contribution our LGBT+ members make […]

Climate Change: a campaign priority for Black LGBT+ people

Conference acknowledges the importance of the ‘Lucas Plan’ formulated 47 years ago by trade unionists at Lucas Aerospace. It proposed an alternative corporate plan, protecting jobs, demanding fair wages, better working conditions and addressed social inequalities. The 2015 International Trade Union Conference (ITUC) agreement developed this, calling for a unified campaign to promote workers rights, […]

Support for the Disability Employment Charter

Conference is proud that UNISON is one of the founding members of the Disability Employment Charter which now has 147 organisations signed up to it, including trade unions, disabled people organisations, public service employers, charitable organisations, and private sector employers. The disability employment charter was founded because of the disadvantage that disabled people experience in […]

LGBT+ people in sport: sidelined and discriminated against

Conference notes the negative impact of media reporting regarding lgbt+ people in the wake of Gender Reform Act being proposed and agreed by the Scottish Parliament. Conference notes that this has contributed to many lgbt+ people decreasing their interactions with their communities especially in the sporting community. Conference further notes the negative impact, in terms […]

Incorporating young members into everyday LGBT+ organising

Conference will recall that the 2022 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender plus (LGBT+) Conference voted in support of stepping up our efforts to ensure young LGBT+ members are being recruited and given opportunities to become activists within our self-organised group (SOG). This committed the national LGBT+ committee to work with the National Young Members Forum (NYMF) […]

Working with trans and non-binary service users

Conference notes the success of the National Lesbian, Gay, Trans and Bisexual Plus (LGBT+) Committee’s campaign on trans equality, particularly the trans ally training programme. Over 1,000 UNISON members have now been trained, and trans and non-binary members are being trained to deliver the training and reach even more members. Conference reaffirms our commitment to […]

Pride and Politics

Conference notes that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Plus (LGBT+) rights have been gradually eroded during the 10+ years of the Conservative Party being in power in Westminster. This year, the United Kingdom fell to 17th place in the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (ILGA) Europe ‘Rainbow Europe’ report, there continues to be […]

Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023

Conference notes with concern the recent passing into law the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 by Uganda at the end of May 2023, and welcomes the condemnation of this legislation by the United Kingdom[1], the United States[2], the European Union, the UNHCR[3] and others. Conference is concerned for the safety of LGBT+ people in Uganda. Conference is […]

Intersectional zero tolerance to hate crimes

This conference is deeply concerned by the steep rise in hate crime across the United Kingdom (UK) in the last 5 years. Conference welcomes progress made by UNISON over many years in campaigning and negotiating for equality both in and outside of the workplace. Conference is alarmed by the rapid rise in homophobic, bi-phobic, transphobic, […]

Supporting the Rights of LGBT+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Conference notes that many LGBT+ asylum seekers face a considerable number of barriers which impact on their physical and mental health. This is compounded by this United Kingdom (UK) Government policies, such as the displacement of asylum seekers to Rwanda, which has now been put on hold as the Court of Appeal ruled that Rwanda […]

Condemn the EHRC advice on changes to the Equality Act

Conference notes with concern a letter that was sent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) chair, Baroness Falkner, to Kemi Badenoch MP, Minister for Women and Equalities. The Minister had previously asked for the EHRC’s advice on the definition of sex as a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010 (EqA). In response, […]

ILGA Europe and the rainbow map – the UK falling further in the index

Conference has always taken an interest in the publication of the Rainbow Map and Index each year in May and in particular the ranking of the United Kingdom (UK). ILGA-Europe, the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (IE) have produced the map and index since 2009, using it to […]

Increasing non-binary and gender diverse inclusion

Conference notes that in 2022, the national transgender caucus changed its name to the trans, non-binary and gender diverse network to be more inclusive of all gender identities and expression beyond the gender binary. Conference welcomes this more inclusive name for the network. Conference further notes that our non-binary and gender diverse members make a […]

Allyship – Next Steps

Conference notes that a workplace that actively creates an inclusive environment for its employees is more successful, retains staff, provides empowerment of opportunity, and builds stronger relationships. In UNISON we understand the power of ‘Stronger Together’, our history is testament to this. As we move into UNISON’s ‘year of LGBT+ workers’ in 2024 we also […]