recruitment
UNISON urges LGBT employees, whether
out or not, to join them for full protection in the workplace. You
don’t have to be out to join.
Join your union J
oining a union can be one of those things you know is a good idea but never quite get round to. It involves form filling. Worse – it involves spending money with no immediate gratification. Chances are, you get on OK with your boss. There may be a few issues at work, maybe things that you don’t even consider a major problem, but you keep your head down. Trouble is, that leaves you vulnerable says leading gay union, UNISON.
Carola Towle, UNISON national LGBT officer
says: “There are thousands of us [gays] among UNISON’s 1.3 million members. We’re involved in every part of it. We’re local reps, on the union’s ruling body, and everything in between.” UNISON offers a fantastic range of services
to its members, including free legal advice for members and their family, welfare service, training opportunities and loads of discounts and offers. “UNISON are a campaigning union and we’re
determined to defend public services and public service workers, including those working in the community and voluntary sector. We don’t accept that there is no alternative to the cuts,” Carola explained.
Trade unions are there for their members, including their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. They protect them and represent their interests in good and bad times. LGBT workers certainly
need trade unions to protect them. Too many of us face harassment and discrimination in the workplace, despite changes in the equality laws in 2003 banning it. Discrimination can be blatant or
work 9 Pride
london 6 • 2011
subtle. Either way, it’s hard to deal with on your own. It’s advised to be in the union before things go wrong. And now lots of workers are facing uncertainty or worse, with the cuts only just beginning to bite.
If there isn’t a UNISON LGBT group in your workplace, there’s certainly one in your area – all UNISON regions have regular LGBT meetings and stalls at Prides. Hundreds of members meet at their annual LGBT conference, which is in Glasgow on 18-20 November. If you work delivering public services, join UNISON. You don’t have to come out as LGB or trans in your UNISON branch.
for advice on lGBt equality at work, visit
www.unison.org.uk/out. members can sign up to the confidential lGBt mailing list. to find out more or join visit
unison.org.uk/join or email out@
unison.co.uk.
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