Trade unions exist to improve the working lives of their members. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers face harassment and discrimination. It’s hard to deal with on your own. Joining UNISON gives you a voice in the UK’s largest public service union, committed to working for LGBT rights.

LGBT members organise locally and nationally to support each other, to identify and challenge discrimination, to increase awareness of LGBT rights and to campaign for change.

Regional LGBT Committee
The North West Regional LGBT Committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting of the LGBT Self Organised Group which takes place in the autumn. The Committee meets at least four times a year to look at issues and campaigns which effect LGBT workers.

The Committee develops an annual Regional LGBT Action Plan to take forward motions passed at the annual National LGBT Conference, this year’s priorities include:

Recruiting and organising

·  Increasing the number of existing members participating in our work;
·  Developing a range of recruitment materials for the group;
·  Hosting a series of recruitment stalls at Pride and other community events; and
·  Develop our use of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) and produce regular member newsletters.

Negotiating LGBT equality

·  Highlighting UNISON guidance to branches relating to Workplace monitoring and materials developed to tackle biphobia and promoting bi equality in the workplace; and
·  Develop a model workplace Trans Policy and share this with branches.

Campaigning and promoting UNISON

·  Attendance at a wide range of Pride events to raise awareness of government cuts;
·  Actively supporting campaigns against the Far Right; and
·  Participate and celebrate LGBT History Month and IDAHO.

International work

· Maintaining our relationship with ILGA and promoting and supporting its work; and
· Campaigning against human rights abuses of LGBT people in other countries.

Get involved

To find out more about our work follow us on Facebook or Twitter:

·  On Facebook: Search for “UNISON LGBT Self Organised Group (North West Region)
·  Follow us on twitter: @unisonnwlgbt

Join us at one of our meetings

Our 2022 meetings, held at UNISON Regional Centre, Arena Point, Manchester M3 1UN or online are on:

• 12 May 2022
• 2 July 2022 (Training event)
• 3 September 2022 AGM

WHO TO CONTACT
If you are already a UNISON member, come along to one of our meetings – contact:

Adam Hodgson
(UNISON North West LGBT Committee Co-convenor)
Telephone: 07792 447997
Email: [email protected]

Laura Heaton-Sutton
(UNISON North West LGBT Committee Co-convenor)
Telephone: 07814 645907
Email: [email protected]

Nicola Bowering
(North West LGBT+ Organiser)
E-mail: [email protected]