Recruitment and organising
The union is strongest when membership in every workplace is high and when that membership is organised.
GMB reps can use the trans and non-binary campaign to remind members and potential members that GMB stands with minority and oppressed workers – including trans, non-binary and all LGBT+ workers.
Promoting the GMB Trans and Non-binary Equality in the Workplace campaign in your branch and workplace reminds workers that we stand up for everyone’s rights – and that their place is in GMB.
GMB protection and support must be available to trans and non-binary workers, from day one on the job.
Campaigning
We need GMB reps and branch secretaries to lead the call for better protection and support in the workplace for trans and non-binary workers - and to negotiate this at a local level.
The model policy in this toolkit is written for you as a GMB rep to take to your employer to negotiate its adoption as part of your employer’s set of workplace policies. It’s available in Word format so it can be edited to be relevant to your employer and industry.
If you’re not yet very familiar with this area, start by reading through the factsheet and terminology documents, then check out theexternal resources. You don’t need to be an expert – just committed to justice and equality at work.
If you’re not yet a GMB rep but are passionate about trans rights at work, get in touch with your GMB branch and ask them to review the toolkit and make it a branch priority. If you’ve not been active in the union before, this could be your starting point.
Casework
GMB reps play a huge role in supporting individual members of all backgrounds and identities when they experience change, discrimination, bullying and sickness in their workplace. This includes trans and non-binary workers and the same principles of support apply.
The guidance in the GMB toolkit will help you understand some issues which trans workers may have and how they can be resolved.
However, some trans and non-binary workers may not come forward because they don’t know that GMB and the employer can support them.
All GMB activists can make sure that trans and non-binary members come to them by being visible and vocal allies to trans people and all LGBT+ people at work.
If you’re unsure about any aspect of supporting a trans or non-binary worker in casework, review the resources and links on these pages. If you need more support, get in touch with your GMB officer or your regional equality officer.
There are no trans members in my workplace or branch so what’s the point in talking about these issues?
The steps and recommendations in the model policy are about basic support, respect and adjustments at work. These principles benefit all workers, not only trans people.
There may be trans or non-binary workers in your branch who aren’t ‘out’ as trans at work. That’s ok and is their choice – but knowing that GMB is on their side is important to all our members.
There are also lots of people who have trans friends or family members or who are allies to trans people. Adopting this campaign is an important way to show that GMB is committed to equality at work.