Government must do better for LGBTQ+ people, says UNISON at annual LGBT+ conference
– 2 min read
UNISON’s annual LGBT+ conference wrapped up in Edinburgh this weekend, with a clear message to ministers: workplaces must be safe for all employees, and the government must step up its commitment to equality.
Speaking on Saturday, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea delivered a powerful keynote address, urging action on long-promised reforms and condemning years of neglect. “Every member of our union should be treated with dignity and respect. Everyone should be able to work and live free from prejudice, discrimination and intolerance,” she told delegates.
McAnea criticised the legacy of 14 years of Conservative governments, citing austerity’s devastating impact on public services and LGBTQ+ lives. She also expressed frustration that, despite Labour’s election last year, progress has been slower than expected. “Ministers must get back to doing what a Labour government should be doing - improving the lives of working people, rebuilding public services and striving for a more equal society,” she said.
While acknowledging positive steps such as the Employment Rights Bill - which promises to end exploitative zero-hours contracts, guarantee sick pay from day one, and allow unions to run digital ballots - McAnea warned that poor communication and political resistance threaten its success. “Bad employers don’t like it. And have been lobbying furiously to try to get the bill watered down,” she noted.
The conference also renewed calls for an urgent ban on conversion therapy, including protections for trans, non-binary and gender diverse people. McAnea described the practice as “disgraceful” and demanded Labour deliver on its pledge. She further backed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to ensure LGBTQ+-specific hate crimes receive consistent sentencing, highlighting that official figures underestimate the true scale of abuse because many victims do not report incidents.
Delegates voiced alarm over leaked proposals for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) code of practice, which could restrict access to single-sex spaces and create “unworkable” conditions in workplaces. McAnea warned: “If true, leaks reported in the media this week suggest it will be horrendous and unworkable. With organisations having to employ toilet police to check who’s going to the loo.”
UNISON reaffirmed its commitment to trans equality, celebrating the rollout of trans ally training to over 7,000 members. McAnea stressed that workplaces must remain safe for all employees, condemning interim guidance that has led some employers to wrongly instruct trans staff to use facilities based on biological sex. “The tribunal cases in Fife and Darlington illustrate how easy it is for employers to get things wrong,” she said.
The conference closed with a pledge to keep campaigning for equality and to hold the government accountable. “Workplaces should be a safe place for all employees. All of the time,” McAnea concluded.
