EXCLUSIVE – Leaders from UNISON, USDAW and ASLEF all raised concerns about the treatment of trans people following the UK Supreme Court ruling over the Equality Act and gender
Trade unions have vowed to do “everything they can” to change the law to better protect trans people.
Leaders from UNISON, USDAW and ASLEF all raised concerns about the treatment of trans people following the UK Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a woman and sex in the Equality Act relates to “a biological woman and biological sex”.
Speaking at a Trans solidarity rally at Labour conference in Liverpool, the unions vowed to keep fighting the legislation, and warned the trans community were being forced out of public spaces.
Andrea Egan, General secretary of UNISON, said: “This law flies in the face of our democratically agreed policies in UNISON: that trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary identities exist.
“And they should be recognized in law. It’s not a position we’ve chosen, it’s not a position I want us to be in, but I tell you, we will leave no stone unturned to make the spaces as inclusive as possible in UNISON.
“UNISON will not stop campaigning, doing everything we can to change the law in this country for gender recognition. We are undertaking work right now across my movement to assess the legislation and how it needs to be changed.”
As per the EHRC guidance, a large number of trans-inclusive women’s organisations across the country must now either ban trans women entirely, or stop being a women’s service and open up to all men.
Joanne Thomas, the General Secretary of General Secretary of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Worker (USDAW) claimed all 11 affiliated unions thought the Supreme verdict was unworkable.
She said: “I’m immensely proud to stand alongside Labour for Trans Rights, and definitely and always in solidarity with our trans members and trans workers and communities everywhere.
“I know that I speak for all of the 11 affiliated unions when I say this: We know the law as it currently stands, including the EHRC code of practice, has hurt trans and non-binary people. And we’re absolutely clear that all trans identities should be respected. As if any law could ever tell you who you are.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the rights that we fought for, won, rolled back. And it’s horrendous to see trans people being pushed out of services and spaces, including, I’m ashamed to say, at Labour Party Conference, where trans women were contextually previously being made unwelcome.
“I want to say to our trans members and trans workers everywhere: the law cannot and should not tell you who you are, and you will always have our solidarity forever.”
Dave Calfe, General Secretary at ASLEF added: “We’re appalled to see the rise in LGBTQ+ hate crime and the rise of blatant transphobia across society. As trade unionists, we will always fight for the rights of all workers and for better for all communities.
“Excluding trans people from public life is not dignity, banning trans people from using the facilities they deserve to use is not dignity. This doesn’t work for people, it doesn’t work for businesses, and it does not work for trade unions.”