The decision by four Trade Unions to boycott Labour’s Women’s Conference raises an important question about who some of Britain’s Trade Unions now believe they represent.
UNISON, ASLEF, USDAW, and the Musicians’ Union have reportedly decided not to participate because transgender women will not be permitted to take part in the formal women-only proceedings.
For the Workers of England Union, the issue goes beyond one conference. It is about whether Trade Unions are listening to ordinary members, particularly women, and whether they are respecting the law as it currently stands.
Legal Context and the Equality Act 2010
In April 2025, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in For Women Scotland Ltd v Scottish Ministers that the terms “woman”, “man”, and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex.
Trade unions regularly expect employers to respect court judgments, employment legislation, and equality law. They support members taking employers to tribunals and courts when those rights are not respected. Yet there remains a fundamental issue regarding equal representation by UNISON, ASLEF, USDAW, and the Musicians’ Union.
There will be many sensible women within UNISON and the other three Trade Unions who believe that women should be entitled to meet together to discuss issues specifically affecting women. Who is representing those women? These women should be able to rely upon their Trade Union to properly represent them in the workplace.
A women-only conference should not be controversial in the modern world. These Trade Unions shouldn’t disregard the common-sense views of the women who attend or disregard their views by boycotting the event.
The WEU Approach to Equal Treatment
The Workers of England Union has a clear stance: we are happy to support women-only events. We equally support men-only events to discuss issues particularly affecting men. We also support joint sessions where everyone can discuss the issues affecting workers collectively.
That is proper equal treatment. Recognising differences does not mean treating somebody unfairly.
Stephen Morris, General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, said:
“Women should be concerned with these Labour-supporting Trade Unions boycotting women’s events because they are restricted to real women. A Trade Union should be representing its members, not telling women that their perfectly lawful views are unacceptable. If Trade Unions expect employers to respect the law, they must be prepared to respect it themselves.”
Cases Raising Questions Over Member Representation
The wider question for female Trade Union members is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid: if your Trade Union boycotts a women-only event because it disagrees with the principle that biological sex matters, will they represent you if you hold lawful beliefs that conflict with their political position?
This concern does not exist in isolation. Recent cases highlight instances where members with gender-critical beliefs felt let down by traditional unions:
| Case / Individual | Union Involved & Outcome / Situation |
|---|---|
| Nurse Sandie Peggie Dispute | Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reportedly did not represent her in a dispute over female changing room privacy. |
| Darlington Changing Rooms Case | UNISON refused to support the lead female claimant regarding single-sex changing facilities, instead representing the transgender colleague. Claimants pursued outside legal support. |
| Fiona Macdonald Employment Tribunal | Pursuing an Employment Tribunal claim against the Public and Commercial Service Union (PCS), alleging discrimination over gender-critical beliefs (PCS is defending; allegations undetermined). |
An Open Invitation to Women Workers
These cases should concern any sensible woman who is a member of these Trade Unions. The Workers of England Union door is open to all sensible women who feel their present Trade Union has stopped listening to them and isn’t respecting their common-sense views as women.
If your Trade Union will not represent your concerns or support your workplace rights, perhaps it is time to find one that will. This is an open invitation to join a truly independent Trade Union: the Workers of England Union.
Stephen Morris
General Secretary
Workers of England Union
Key Takeaways
- Boycott of Labour Women’s Conference: Four major unions (UNISON, ASLEF, USDAW, Musicians' Union) boycotted the conference due to biological sex restrictions.
- Supreme Court Alignment: The April 2025 For Women Scotland ruling affirmed that "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refers strictly to biological sex.
- Representation Concerns: Highlights real-world cases (RCN, Darlington/UNISON, PCS) where traditional unions declined to represent female members with gender-critical views.
- Independent Alternative: The Workers of England Union offers non-political, independent representation protecting members' lawful rights and single-sex spaces.
This Article is Tagged under:
Equality Act, Women's Rights, Equal Rights
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