Women Deserve a Trade Union That Stands Up for Them

Women fought for generations to secure equal pay, dignity, representation and a voice over their working conditions. They deserve Trade Unions that actively defend those gains without hesitation.

UNISON’s response to NHS England’s single-sex guidance has prompted fierce criticism and rightly so! In the statement shared by its general secretary, the far left, Ms Andrea Egan, the emphasis is on transgender people’s safety, dignity and privacy, alongside a commitment to campaign for legal change. Women’s concerns about their own privacy and sex-based protections receive no explicit acknowledgement.

That omission is inexcusable.

Criticism of UNISON's Single-Sex Policy

The commentator, fireman and Trade Unionist, Paul Embery condemned the position, accusing UNISON’s leadership of wanting to “trash their hard-won sex-based rights”. He also concluded: “Utterly inexcusable.”

Sharron Davies, the Olympic swimmer, issued an equally direct message: “Stop paying your subs ladies they have no intention of standing up for you”.

The Women’s Rights Network said: “The Trade Unions have completely lost the plot.”

That is only true of many of the Labour Party supporting Trade Unions but not of the Workers of England Union who actively supports and promotes the rights of Women.

UNISON itself says women constitute two-thirds of its membership. Those women deserve confidence that their concerns will be heard and their rights defended.

Sharon Davies is correct, stop paying your subscriptions. Join a Trade Union who cares and we say join the Workers of England Union.

Defending Women's Rights in the Workplace

The TUC and its affiliated Trade Unions must recognise that women’s trust cannot be taken for granted. Protecting a small group of transgender individuals who are not biologically women but biologically male, over women’s rights is mind boggling. Not respecting the Law is damaging to women’s hard-fought rights. But that is exactly what is happening.

These Labour Party supporting Trade Unions come across as unrepentant about that view, to the detriment of women’s rights and concerns.

The Workers of England Union has already published commitments on equal pay, childcare, work-life balance and tackling discrimination. Our menstrual-health campaigning calls for free workplace period products, practical flexibility, informed managers and fair absence procedures. These are concrete demands addressing women’s working lives.

Statement by Stephen Morris

Stephen Morris, General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, says:

“Trade Unions that sideline women’s concerns are failing their members and women rights. Women need better pay, better conditions, protection against discrimination and proper employment understanding and support with menstrual health. Their rights must never become an embarrassment to the organisations taking their subscriptions. UNISON definitely appears embarrassed that women want to be protected and feel protected when get getting changed or going to the toilet whilst at work. Women have a right to feel safe on single sex spaces.

“The Workers of England Union is here to protect all our members rights including women’s rights at work. If your Trade Union will not defend your rights or listen to your concerns and are actively campaigning against them as well, leave it that Trade Union now and join us.”

Your subscriptions should support your rights. If UNISON or another Trade Union has lost your confidence, make the change. Join the Workers of England Union. A Trade Union that cares about you!!

www.workersofengland.co.uk and join us.

Key Takeaways

• Backlash Over Single-Sex Guidance: UNISON faces condemnation from trade unionists and women's rights advocates for omitting women's privacy concerns in its response to NHS guidance.
• Female Majority Ignored: Despite women comprising two-thirds of UNISON's membership, legacy unions are accused of prioritizing political stances over sex-based protections.
• Concrete Workplace Policies: The WEU champions practical workplace rights for women, including equal pay, childcare, work-life balance, and free workplace period products.
• Protecting Single-Sex Spaces: The Workers of England Union firmly defends the right of women to privacy and safety in changing rooms, toilets, and single-sex facilities at work.

References:

Paul Embery, statement via X
Sharron Davies MBE, statement via X;
Women’s Rights Network, statement via X;
Andrea Egan, General Secretary statement on NHS England guidance on single-sex spaces;
BBC News, reporting on UNISON leadership election;

UNISON, Women members group & Sex discrimination policy guidance;

Workers of England Union, 'Period Pain at Work: A Women’s Health Issue We Should No Longer Ignore', 21 September 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Backlash Over Single-Sex Guidance: UNISON faces severe criticism from unionists and women's advocates for failing to explicitly acknowledge women's privacy and sex-based rights in its NHS single-sex spaces statement.
• Female Majority Sidelined: Despite women representing two-thirds of UNISON's membership, legacy affiliated unions continue to subordinate sex-based protections to political agendas.
• Concrete Workplace Policies: The WEU delivers practical, member-focused support for women, including campaigns for equal pay, fair absence policies, flexible working, and free workplace period products.
• Defense of Single-Sex Facilities: The Workers of England Union affirms women's fundamental rights to dignity, safety, and privacy in dedicated single-sex spaces across English workplaces.