Category: LGBT

Building on the Year of LGBT+ Workers

Local government delegates in Brighton have been celebrating the successes of the union’s Year of LGBT+ Workers, while accepting that the fight to achieve LGBT+ equality and acceptance is far from over.

A composite motion noted that the year devoted to LGBT+ workers is providing an opportunity to promote UNISON as the union for LGBT+ workers in local government, raise awareness of LGBT+ rights, challenge discrimination, negotiate LGBT+ inclusive policies and recruit and activate LGBT+ members in the service group.

But while LGBT+ people have seen positive change in recent years, prejudice and discrimination continue to impact the lives of many.

Proposing the motion, Penny Smith of the national LGBT+ committee (pictured) told delegates: “The contribution that our LGBT+ members make in local government to improving employment conditions for LGBT+ workers and to campaigning more broadly on equality for LGBT+ people is amazing.

“We have much to celebrate this year. We are continuing the trans ally roll out, we are asking branches to fill in our LGBT+ policy checklist on LGBT+ equality, we are creating new training on plus identities. And many branch members have worked tirelessly to make this year successful and educative.

“This is all so positive. And yet I don’t always feel positive. Prejudice and discrimination continue to impact our lives. Anti-trans rhetoric and anti-LGBT+ sentiment is endemic in all forms of media. Many of us are not safe at work, not many of us can be ‘out’ at work.

“This is due to misconceptions deliberately perpetrated by anti-LGBT+ and anti-trans groups. We also do not receive the support we should get from some employers.”

Ed Whitby of the local government executive told delegates: “The last five years have shown how important this year is to us,” citing a 112 per cent rise in hate crime based on homophobia in that period, and a 186 per cent rise in hate crimes against trans people.

“We celebrate our long history,” he said, “but we double our commitments as activists to make the practical steps for change.”

Liz Wheatley of Camden branch said that “LGBT+ people have been at the sharp end of Tory attacks. Election year has been a race by the Tories to attack the most vulnerable in society, to divide us and make us blame each other and not the Tory criminals who are stealing our pay, our services, our homes, our schools and our hospitals.

“In particular, they want to scapegoat refugees and trans people, so it’s important that we stand and organise against this.”

The motion calls on the service group executive to work with the national LGBT+ members committee and others to:

  • Continue to promote the Year of LGBT+ Workers at every level of union activity
  • Continue to encourage branches, regions and sectors to negotiate on LGBT+ workers’ rights in collective bargaining
  • Promote and encourage participation in equality training, in particular the trans ally training
  • Work with local government employers to identify and share good practices which support the recruitment, retention, and progression of LGBT+ people in local government workplaces and careers
  • Encourage LGBT+ members to participate and stand for election in their respective branch, regional and national local government service group executives/committees and as workplace stewards and other representative roles.

Penny Smith concluded: “We need your help in making sure that our LGBT+ members can feel safe in their workplaces and that local government workplaces are free from hate and discrimination.

“And we need your help not just in 2024. We need the momentum we have created and are creating to carry forward. Branches completing the LGBT+ checklists can use that as a starting point for further work in 2025 and beyond.

“The work in advancing LGBT+ equality does not mean less equality for everyone else. It means better outcomes for all.”

The article Building on the Year of LGBT+ Workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Building on the Year of LGBT+ Workers

Local government delegates in Brighton have been celebrating the successes of the union’s Year of LGBT+ Workers, while accepting that the fight to achieve LGBT+ equality and acceptance is far from over.

A composite motion noted that the year devoted to LGBT+ workers is providing an opportunity to promote UNISON as the union for LGBT+ workers in local government, raise awareness of LGBT+ rights, challenge discrimination, negotiate LGBT+ inclusive policies and recruit and activate LGBT+ members in the service group.

But while LGBT+ people have seen positive change in recent years, prejudice and discrimination continue to impact the lives of many.

Proposing the motion, Penny Smith of the national LGBT+ committee (pictured) told delegates: “The contribution that our LGBT+ members make in local government to improving employment conditions for LGBT+ workers and to campaigning more broadly on equality for LGBT+ people is amazing.

“We have much to celebrate this year. We are continuing the trans ally roll out, we are asking branches to fill in our LGBT+ policy checklist on LGBT+ equality, we are creating new training on plus identities. And many branch members have worked tirelessly to make this year successful and educative.

“This is all so positive. And yet I don’t always feel positive. Prejudice and discrimination continue to impact our lives. Anti-trans rhetoric and anti-LGBT+ sentiment is endemic in all forms of media. Many of us are not safe at work, not many of us can be ‘out’ at work.

“This is due to misconceptions deliberately perpetrated by anti-LGBT+ and anti-trans groups. We also do not receive the support we should get from some employers.”

Ed Whitby of the local government executive told delegates: “The last five years have shown how important this year is to us,” citing a 112 per cent rise in hate crime based on homophobia in that period, and a 186 per cent rise in hate crimes against trans people.

“We celebrate our long history,” he said, “but we double our commitments as activists to make the practical steps for change.”

Liz Wheatley of Camden branch said that “LGBT+ people have been at the sharp end of Tory attacks. Election year has been a race by the Tories to attack the most vulnerable in society, to divide us and make us blame each other and not the Tory criminals who are stealing our pay, our services, our homes, our schools and our hospitals.

“In particular, they want to scapegoat refugees and trans people, so it’s important that we stand and organise against this.”

The motion calls on the service group executive to work with the national LGBT+ members committee and others to:

  • Continue to promote the Year of LGBT+ Workers at every level of union activity
  • Continue to encourage branches, regions and sectors to negotiate on LGBT+ workers’ rights in collective bargaining
  • Promote and encourage participation in equality training, in particular the trans ally training
  • Work with local government employers to identify and share good practices which support the recruitment, retention, and progression of LGBT+ people in local government workplaces and careers
  • Encourage LGBT+ members to participate and stand for election in their respective branch, regional and national local government service group executives/committees and as workplace stewards and other representative roles.

Penny Smith concluded: “We need your help in making sure that our LGBT+ members can feel safe in their workplaces and that local government workplaces are free from hate and discrimination.

“And we need your help not just in 2024. We need the momentum we have created and are creating to carry forward. Branches completing the LGBT+ checklists can use that as a starting point for further work in 2025 and beyond.

“The work in advancing LGBT+ equality does not mean less equality for everyone else. It means better outcomes for all.”

The article Building on the Year of LGBT+ Workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

LGBT+ equality is top priority at health conference

The opening debates at UNISON’s health service group conference, which began this morning in Brighton, emphasised the union’s equalities work.

In the conference’s opening motion, the national LGBT+ committee addressed the Year of LGBT+ Workers and its importance in embedding LGBT+ equality in health.

Moving the motion for the committee, Adam Williams (pictured above) took the opportunity to stress the great work that has been done by the union on LGBT+ equality, but pointing out that there is still much needed, given that LGBT+ people experience significantly greater risks of abuse and violence.

He urged delegates to “educate ourselves about making our union and workplaces safer for our LGBT+ colleagues.”

A further speaker highlighted how, when governments attack LGBT+ rights, you can be sure they’ll also be targeting migrants’ rights, women’s rights and workers’ rights.

James Shepherd from the Northern region said that, as a newly-recruited activist, the year is vital. He called on branches to get involved – and particularly to access the union’s trans ally training – given that the Westminster government, and much of the UK’s news media, is demonising and attacking trans people.

Tania Pretswell, speaking on behalf of the national committee, told conference that the service group executive will be taking trans ally training. Ms Pretswell proudly cited the history of supporting lesbian and gay rights as NUPE – one of UNISON’s founding unions – going back to 1981.

Delegates unanimously backed the motion, which, among a range of calls, urged the executive to “encourage and support the development of activism amongst our health LGBT+ members”, and to “promote and encourage participation in equality training and trans ally training”.

The article LGBT+ equality is top priority at health conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

LGBT+ equality is top priority at health conference

The opening debates at UNISON’s health service group conference, which began this morning in Brighton, emphasised the union’s equalities work.

In the conference’s opening motion, the national LGBT+ committee addressed the Year of LGBT+ Workers and its importance in embedding LGBT+ equality in health.

Moving the motion for the committee, Adam Williams (pictured above) took the opportunity to stress the great work that has been done by the union on LGBT+ equality, but pointing out that there is still much needed, given that LGBT+ people experience significantly greater risks of abuse and violence.

He urged delegates to “educate ourselves about making our union and workplaces safer for our LGBT+ colleagues.”

A further speaker highlighted how, when governments attack LGBT+ rights, you can be sure they’ll also be targeting migrants’ rights, women’s rights and workers’ rights.

James Shepherd from the Northern region said that, as a newly-recruited activist, the year is vital. He called on branches to get involved – and particularly to access the union’s trans ally training – given that the Westminster government, and much of the UK’s news media, is demonising and attacking trans people.

Tania Pretswell, speaking on behalf of the national committee, told conference that the service group executive will be taking trans ally training. Ms Pretswell proudly cited the history of supporting lesbian and gay rights as NUPE – one of UNISON’s founding unions – going back to 1981.

Delegates unanimously backed the motion, which, among a range of calls, urged the executive to “encourage and support the development of activism amongst our health LGBT+ members”, and to “promote and encourage participation in equality training and trans ally training”.

The article LGBT+ equality is top priority at health conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Celebrating our LGBT+ members and history

This month, UNISON has been celebrating LGBT+ History Month. It was founded in 2004, as an opportunity for everyone to raise awareness of the history, lives and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

UNISON has taken a look back at the positive contribution activists and members have made to the struggle for equality. Meanwhile, across the union, events continue to celebrate the union’s Year of LGBT+ Workers.

The theme for the 2024 LGBT+ History Month is medicine – #UnderTheScope – serving as a reminder that the NHS and healthcare services would not be the same without LGBT+ people and their contribution to medical advances and health care. But we must also remember and understand the health inequalities faced by LGBT+ people.

In recent years, the UK has been steadily falling in the rankings of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association’s Rainbow Map of European countries. As discrimination against LGBT+ people increases in the UK, it’s more important than ever to take steps to tackle the growing inequalities.

With the current government fuelling hate and prejudice and actively stopping progressive legislation, we must get together and fight for positive change in workplaces and society, to make LGBT+ workers more visible and confident in their rights. We cannot tolerate hateful speech and rhetoric.

Over the past decades, UNISON has built a great community of LGBT+ activists and now we have a chance to give a platform to and listen to LGBT+ people and their needs. I hope you will join me and UNISON in celebrating LGBT+ History Month – together we can be the change this country needs to make every LGBT+ person feel safe and valued.

The article Blog: Celebrating our LGBT+ members and history first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Celebrating our LGBT+ members and history

This month, UNISON has been celebrating LGBT+ History Month. It was founded in 2004, as an opportunity for everyone to raise awareness of the history, lives and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

UNISON has taken a look back at the positive contribution activists and members have made to the struggle for equality. Meanwhile, across the union, events continue to celebrate the union’s Year of LGBT+ Workers.

The theme for the 2024 LGBT+ History Month is medicine – #UnderTheScope – serving as a reminder that the NHS and healthcare services would not be the same without LGBT+ people and their contribution to medical advances and health care. But we must also remember and understand the health inequalities faced by LGBT+ people.

In recent years, the UK has been steadily falling in the rankings of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association’s Rainbow Map of European countries. As discrimination against LGBT+ people increases in the UK, it’s more important than ever to take steps to tackle the growing inequalities.

With the current government fuelling hate and prejudice and actively stopping progressive legislation, we must get together and fight for positive change in workplaces and society, to make LGBT+ workers more visible and confident in their rights. We cannot tolerate hateful speech and rhetoric.

Over the past decades, UNISON has built a great community of LGBT+ activists and now we have a chance to give a platform to and listen to LGBT+ people and their needs. I hope you will join me and UNISON in celebrating LGBT+ History Month – together we can be the change this country needs to make every LGBT+ person feel safe and valued.

The article Blog: Celebrating our LGBT+ members and history first appeared on the UNISON National site.

A union that keeps making LGBT+ history

February is LGBT+ History Month – and 2024 is UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ Workers – so what better time to take a few minutes to consider how UNISON has been making history in the fight for LGBT+ equality?

Decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales finally occurred in 1967, while lesbianism had never been illegal. In 1976 NALGO, one of UNISON’s founding unions, was urging negotiators to seek to add sexual orientation to non-discrimination clauses in all collective agreements.

In 1981, NUPE member Susan Shell was sacked from her job as a residential care assistant for being a lesbian. While she had the support of her union, the law offered no protection at the time.

Ms Shell’s situation – and the lack of protection – saw NUPE affiliate to the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights, becoming the first trade union to do so.

Also in 1981, decriminalisation finally arrived in Scotland and, 12 months later, in Northern Ireland.

Marching on the Isle of Man

Fast forward to 1983 and NALGO’s annual conference in Douglas, on the Isle of Man. On the island, a British Crown dependency, homosexuality was still a criminal offence. At the conference, many delegates wore stickers saying: ‘Glad to be gay in Douglas’ and ‘Gay OK’ and, on the Thursday, some 300 delegates marched along the promenade and through the main shopping centre to deliver a petition to the government building, calling for gay rights.

The Isle of Man finally caught up with the march of progress in 1991.

In the meantime, in 1985, the Labour Party conference included a vote on whether to include lesbian and gay rights in its manifesto. Campaigners were on edge, but they knew that, as well as the support of the National Union of Mineworkers – in the wake of the events during the miners’ strike that are portrayed in the film Pride – their only other guaranteed support would come from NALGO and NUPE.

The vote passed and campaigning moved to the next stage.

COHSE joins the struggle

In 1987, COHSE joined the fight, passing a resolution at its conference to support equal opportunities for gay men and lesbians “at work and in the trade union and labour movement”.

UNISON’s constituent unions continued working around lesbian and gay equality throughout the 1980s – not least against Clause 28 of the Local Government Act, which is also known as Section 28.

It was finally repealed in Scotland in 2000, in England and Wales in 2003 and in the Isle of Man in 2006 (it never applied in Northern Ireland). No case had ever been brought under the legislation, but it caused a climate of censorship, confusion and fear, a loss of funding and support to organisations, and contributed to the struggles of lesbian and gay people.

Inclusivity is our name

In 1990, The Voice newspaper published a series of articles, attacking and ridiculing Black lesbians and gay men.

Activists from NALGO formed Black Lesbians and Gay Men against Media Homophobia and, with the union’s help, launched a successful campaign to persuade public service employers not to advertise jobs in the paper.

The boycott was lifted when the paper’s directors met with campaigners and NALGO reps, and agreed to a full-page right of reply, improved representation for Black lesbians and gay men and a comprehensive equalities policy for its own staff.

Making more history

In 1991 NALGO elected Mike Blick as president – the first openly LGBT+ trade union leader in the UK.

In 2005, eight years after COHSE, NALGO and NUPE had founded UNISON, the union took the historic vote that created the LGBT group, including bisexual and transgender members in our self-organisation. In the same year, the union was recognised as bi-inclusive by BiCon, the UK’s national conference for bisexual people.

But nobody has been resting on their laurels.

Cover star Phillippa Scrafton

In 2013, Phillippa Scrafton was elected as the national LGBT committee’s first out trans chairperson (two years later, she was the cover star of U magazine, which went out to every one of the union’s then 1.3 million members) and Maureen Le Marinel became the union’s first out gay president.

Adding the ‘plus’

And let’s not forget 2019, when activists won unanimous support at national delegate conference to change the group’s name to LGBT+, making us even more inclusive.

Since then, our successful trans equality campaign has seen over 3,000 UNISON members trained to be a good trans ally, while over 30 workplaces have adopted the union’s trans equality model policy.

The work goes on – providing support for LGBT+ members across the union.

Resources and further reading

Everyone who is not themselves trans can be a ‘trans ally.’ And UNISON has produced guidance to help you do that – and you can find it here.

You can find a checklist here of workplace policies for LGBT+ inclusion.

If you’re interested in reading more, Peter Purton’s Champions of Equality: Trade unions and LGBT rights in Britain, looks at the wider union work on LGBT+ rights, but of course the book includes UNISON – with mentions for both then UNISON national officer Carola Towle, and also Phillippa Scrafton. It’s published by Lawrence & Wishart.

For more about the role of LGBT+ activists in the miners’ strike, not only is there the film Pride, but also the book, Pride: The unlikely story of the unsung heroes of the miners’ strike, by Tim Tate, with LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners), published by John Blake.

Paul Baker has penned an excellent, really accessible history, The story of Section 28 and Britain’s battle for LGBT education, which not only illustrates the impact of the legislation, but also the rhetoric used in media and by politicians about LGBT+ people. It’s published by Reaktion Books.

• This article was originally published in February 2020, but has been updated and amended for February 2024.

 

The article A union that keeps making LGBT+ history first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Let’s make 2024 a success

Happy New Year to everyone in UNISON and here’s to a successful year for you and your families.

I have high hopes for 2024 – 12 months of campaigning for UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ workers and for a national care service, securing pay deals across all public services and a general election that will push the chaotic Tories out of Westminster and bring in a new government.

A new government is a must for our members and for our public services. Our NHS, schools, local councils and emergency services are on their knees and stuck in a state of crisis. The current government’s legacy is one of slashing jobs, squeezing budgets, and falling living standards for millions of working people. We need a Labour government that will rebuild our public services, put workers first with a new deal for working people and create a national care service.

Campaigning for that change in government will be a big part of our mission this year, but we won’t let election fever take over our daily task of fighting for our members’ pay and conditions. Day in, day out, our activists and organisers are supporting members in workplaces across the UK, and our teams in head office are mounting legal challenges, influencing politicians, preparing campaigns and helping members when they need us most.   

We’ll also be celebrating our Year of LGBT+ workers in UNISON style – continuing to be loud and proud against homophobia and transphobia, and ensuring that UNISON always remains the best trade union for LGBT+ public service workers.  

And later this year, there’s something that every working member can get involved with. From 22 April to 17 May, voting will be open for your representatives on UNISON’s service group executives (SGEs) – the lay leaders who decide on campaigns, pay claims, strike ballots and industrial action. Ahead of that member ballot, from next Monday (8 January) until 9 February, branches can nominate their preferred candidates.

Our SGEs are so important in UNISON. They’re powerful groups of activists that keep UNISON with you throughout your working life, campaigning for fair pay and conditions, safe and healthy working conditions, job security, work-life balance, equal pay and against discrimination.

So if you want some more new year’s resolutions, here’s two for you – have your say in UNISON’s SGE elections and get involved in our Year of LGBT+ workers activities that will be taking place throughout 2024.

From everyone in UNISON, we hope you have a happy, healthy and successful 2024.

The article Blog: Let’s make 2024 a success first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Let’s make 2024 a success

Happy New Year to everyone in UNISON and here’s to a successful year for you and your families.

I have high hopes for 2024 – 12 months of campaigning for UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ workers and for a national care service, securing pay deals across all public services and a general election that will push the chaotic Tories out of Westminster and bring in a new government.

A new government is a must for our members and for our public services. Our NHS, schools, local councils and emergency services are on their knees and stuck in a state of crisis. The current government’s legacy is one of slashing jobs, squeezing budgets, and falling living standards for millions of working people. We need a Labour government that will rebuild our public services, put workers first with a new deal for working people and create a national care service.

Campaigning for that change in government will be a big part of our mission this year, but we won’t let election fever take over our daily task of fighting for our members’ pay and conditions. Day in, day out, our activists and organisers are supporting members in workplaces across the UK, and our teams in head office are mounting legal challenges, influencing politicians, preparing campaigns and helping members when they need us most.   

We’ll also be celebrating our Year of LGBT+ workers in UNISON style – continuing to be loud and proud against homophobia and transphobia, and ensuring that UNISON always remains the best trade union for LGBT+ public service workers.  

And later this year, there’s something that every working member can get involved with. From 22 April to 17 May, voting will be open for your representatives on UNISON’s service group executives (SGEs) – the lay leaders who decide on campaigns, pay claims, strike ballots and industrial action. Ahead of that member ballot, from next Monday (8 January) until 9 February, branches can nominate their preferred candidates.

Our SGEs are so important in UNISON. They’re powerful groups of activists that keep UNISON with you throughout your working life, campaigning for fair pay and conditions, safe and healthy working conditions, job security, work-life balance, equal pay and against discrimination.

So if you want some more new year’s resolutions, here’s two for you – have your say in UNISON’s SGE elections and get involved in our Year of LGBT+ workers activities that will be taking place throughout 2024.

From everyone in UNISON, we hope you have a happy, healthy and successful 2024.

The article Blog: Let’s make 2024 a success first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON president welcomes the union’s Year of LGBT+ Workers

UNISON president Libby Nolan addressed the union’s LGBT+ conference in Liverpool last weekend for the launch of the Year of LGBT+ Workers in 2024 and pledged: “I look forward to working with you to make this the best year possible.”

“This is a Tory administration that has come to the end of the road,” she told delegates. “It’s just a crying shame that we may have to put up with another year of it.

“Because make no mistake, this is a dying government … yet determined to continue running our country into the ground.

“We have seen the Tories’ relentless attacks on trans, non-binary and gender diverse people and their rights. I’m not going to peddle the same myths that members of the Tory party are happy to spout – it’s unfair to draw attention to it.

“But let me be clear, the presidential team and UNISON will not tolerate or excuse any form of trans hate or anti-trans rhetoric.

“Trans rights are human rights and, as trade unionists, we are committed to fighting alongside our trans siblings against this.

“So, a general election cannot come soon enough. The public need a chance to boot Sunak and his cronies out of office.

And Ms Nolan also wanted to celebrate LGBT+ victories over the past 12 months.

“Our trans equality campaign, which has been driven by our wonderful trans, non-binary and gender diverse network, has been a huge success. Over 2,000 members have been trained to be trans allies.

“Over 450 trans, non-binary and gender diverse members have joined the network nationally, and over 50 workplaces now have our trans equality model policy adopted in their workplaces.”

The article UNISON president welcomes the union’s Year of LGBT+ Workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.