TUC publishes new guide for union reps to support trans people at work

Date: Sunday 20 November 2016

Today (Sunday), on Transgender Day of Remembrance, the TUC has published new guidance for union reps on how to better support trans people in the workplace.

The TUC believes transgender people are at risk of discrimination at work. In March a study showed that three in five (60%) of trans workers have experienced some form of discrimination in the workplace, and that more than half (53%) have felt the need to hide their trans status from their colleagues.

Transforming the Workplace gives union reps the tools they need to ensure that workplaces are a supportive environment for trans people.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Despite changes in the law and attitudes, far too many trans people still face discrimination at work.

“Union reps can make a real difference to trans colleagues’ experiences at work, supporting them through transition and helping make sure workplaces provide a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.”

The TUC suggest that reps:

• Review current equal opportunities and bullying and harassment policies to make sure that they promote trans equality
• Check other policies and procedures – such as recruitment policies, recordkeeping and dress codes – to make sure that they do not discriminate against trans people
• Encourage employers to include trans issues in induction training
• Make it clear that anti-trans behaviour or comments are unacceptable in the workplace
• Negotiate specific policies to support employees who transition
• Support trans members experiencing problems at work, especially during transition

The TUC is asking employers to:

• Work with their unions to make sure that workplaces have policies in place to support and protect trans members of staff
• Run trans awareness sessions for staff
• Adopt a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment, including stopping jokes or “banter” about trans issues
• Consider appointing lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans champions in the workplace to support LGBT employees

The TUC continues to demand the government ensure all working people have access to justice by scrapping the employment tribunal fees which prevent many workers taking discrimination claims to court.

ENDS

Case study, Debbie

I am a secondary school teacher. I had been in the same school for nine years when I came out as a trans woman. I told the school because I was going start the process of transitioning – that is, living in my acquired gender. The school got advice from an expert and I went to my union, NASUWT.

The union was really helpful and supportive, explaining the practical things they could do as well as the legal issues. My union was involved in all the discussions which followed including about time off for medical appointments and when to tell parents and pupils. The process of telling colleagues, children and their parents was done at my pace and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Following my transition, I continued to teach the same classes and there was no disruption to the life of the school. Having an open and constructive dialogue between my union and employer benefitted everyone including me and the school.

You can see Debbie’s story at: https://youtu.be/qz1yZN5gHPE

Notes to Editors:
- The TUC guide Transforming the Workplace is available at www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Transformingtheworkplace.pdf

- The study in March was run by Total Jobs and is available at www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/trans-employee-survey-report-2016/

- Transgender Day of Remembrance is held every year on 20 November and is when transgender people and their allies remember trans people who have lost their lives in the face of ignorance, oppression and violence. There have been 2,016 reported killings of trans people in 65 countries worldwide between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015. A trans person is killed every 1.4 days internationally (http://tgeu.org/transgender-day-of-visibility-2016-trans-murder-monitoring-update/)

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk/media
- TUC Press Office on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:
Press Office  T: 020 7467 1248  E: media@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1388  M: 07808 761844  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Thurs) T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07900 910624  E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
Michael Pidgeon  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk