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Trade Unions Reply to Women on TUC Motion 17
Trade Unions Reply to Women on TUC Motion 17

Union members have been writing to the unions to ask if they supported the recent TUC Motion 17 on the EHRC Code and Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act. FiLiA Trade Union Women’s Network suggested five key questions women should ask their unions about this and their position on women's sex-based rights. We have now received responses sent by four unions: Unison, Unite, NEU and NASUWT which we publish here. We are also sharing some replies sent back to these unions by women who are unhappy with the answers they received.

BlogMiz JakubovicSex-based Rights, Government Policy, Lesbian Rights, Class Politics, trade unions
TUC Motion 17 and Women’s Rights
TUC Motion 17 and Women’s Rights

Union members have been writing to their general secretaries to ask them about their union’s position on the recent TUC Motion 17. Unions are starting to respond to these letters and we will be sharing their responses soon. However, women have told us they want to discuss the implications of this motion, and what it means for women’s rights, with other members of their unions and in their branches, so the FiLiA Trade Union Women’s Network have produced this model motion for women to take to their branch meetings.

BlogMiz JakubovicSex-Based Rights, Government Policy, Lesbian Rights, Class Politics, trade unions
Take Action on TUC Motion 17!
Take Action on TUC Motion 17!

Delegates at the Trades Union Congress this week voted to support a motion committing the organisation (and by implication its affiliate unions) to campaign against the EHRC code, which provides guidance on the Equality Act for services, organisations and associations. The motion proposes a serious and substantial change to the legal rights of women and girls and yet no mention is made of this in the motion. The FiLiA Trade Union Women’s Network has produced a short model letter for union members to send to General Secretaries, which asks five key questions. If you are a member of a union, please consider sending this letter to your General Secretary. Just copy and paste the text and send it to your General Secretary either by email or post.

BlogMiz JakubovicClass Politics, Government Policy, Lesbian Rights, Sex-Based Rights, trade unions
Debating the EHRC Code of Practice at This Year’s TUC Congress
Debating the EHRC Code of Practice at This Year’s TUC Congress

This year’s TUC Congress takes place in Brighton between 13-16th September. On the agenda is a motion submitted by the TUC LGBT+ Conference, opposing the EHRC Code of Practice. The motion raises important issues for the majority female membership of trade unions, and for lesbian and gay trade union members.  In this blog we present the motion, along with some questions that TUC delegates may wish to raise at their delegation meetings or in their local branches and regional/national assemblies.

BlogMiz JakubovicSex-Based Rights, Government Policy, Lesbian Rights, Class Politics, trade unions
FiLiA Calls on UNISON, USDAW, ASLEF and The Musicians’ Union to Change Stance on Labour Women’s Conference
FiLiA Calls on UNISON, USDAW, ASLEF and The Musicians’ Union to Change Stance on Labour Women’s Conference

Four unions are boycotting Labour Women's Conference because it is adhering to the law on women's spaces. The FiLiA Trade Union Women’s Network has sent this letter to the General Secretaries of each union to express our incredulity at this stance. We are also publishing it here.

Blog, StatementsMiz JakubovicClass Politics, Sex-Based Rights, Lesbian Rights, Government Policy, trade unions
Trade Unions and the EHRC Code of Practice
Trade Unions and the EHRC Code of Practice

It is over a year since we celebrated an historic victory for women in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers. This blog reviews the most recent misguided attempts by Britain’s trade unions to undermine the Equality Act 2010 and argues why working-class women must ‘take back control’ of their own trade union movement.

On 21st May, Bridget Phillipson finally laid the EHRC Code of Practice before Parliament, after a delay of more than eight months. Since then, several unions, along with the Trades Union Congress and Scottish Trades Union Congress, have doubled down on their opposition to the Supreme Court ruling and issued statements to that effect.

BlogMICHELLE KERWINtrade unions, Class Politics, Sex-Based Rights
The Invisible Killer: Asbestos and the Dangers for Women in the Workplace
The Invisible Killer: Asbestos and the Dangers for Women in the Workplace

Asbestos is killing more women every year. But evidence shows that many still aren’t aware of the disease and how it can be acquired at work. This blog is based on a speech given by Susan Aitouaziz for the FiLiA Trade Union Women’s Network Health & Safety is a Women’s Issue webinar. Held on 26th March 2026, in preparation for International Workers’ Memorial Day on 26th April 2026.

BlogMICHELLE KERWINClass Politics, trade unions
Holding up Half the Sky – Women and the Labour Movement
Holding up Half the Sky – Women and the Labour Movement

The labour movement sees itself as the champion of women’s rights but continues to be complicit in our oppression. Women’s participation is constrained and subject to conditions that other oppressed groups do not face. By tackling the sex and misogyny in its midst, it would not only demonstrate its commitment to women's rights but build its own strength. The labour movement needs women: without us it will fail. This is the text of a speech made by Kiri Tunks for FiLiA Trade Union Women’s Network, as part of a women-only panel, at the Morning Star Conference '1926 to 2026 – Organised Labour 100 Years from the General Strike'.

BlogMICHELLE KERWINClass Politics, Sex-Based Rights, trade unions