This year, UNIGlobal, the Global Union Federation representing workers in the skills and services industries have devised an all encompassing campaign for greater LGBTI rights and equality.

UNI has updated its LGBTI+ guide for trade unions designed to help unions address the challenges facing LGBTI+ workers around the world. This guide provides UNI member unions with a glossary of terms, a better understanding of the causes of LGBTI+ discrimination and how it occurs in the workplace; as well as providing suggestions as to how we, as unions and as workers can help.

UNI has also re-launched its “I belong to my union” drive. The campaign aims to raise awareness about discrimination faced by LGBTI+ workers globally and explain how trade unions are essential in the promotion of decent work, free from any form of discrimination.

Unions globally have a long history of pushing for LGBTI+ rights, and this crisis has created new challenges and shows us how much more work we have to do

“Unions globally have a long history of pushing for LGBTI+ rights, and this crisis has created new challenges and shows us how much more work we have to do,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. “We are committed to coming out of this crisis with a fairer, more just economy for everyone, and that clearly means redoubling efforts to advancing LGBTI+ rights.”

UNI has also issued guidelines for trade unions to help LGBTI+ workers during the pandemic, as well as information that unions can use to circulate amongst their members listing institutional resources to protect workers in need.

“As unions, we need to continue to raise our voices against all forms of discrimination and reaffirm our commitment to protecting all workers and their rights. It is our job to do everything in our power to ensure social justice, equality and protection for all. Let’s make it happen!” said Veronica Fernandez Mendez, Head of UNI Equal Opportunities.

UNI has issued guidelines for trade unions to help LGBTI+ workers during the pandemic, as well as information that unions can use to circulate amongst their members listing institutional resources to protect workers in need.

In 2018, at the UNI World Congress in Liverpool, UNI pledged to continue to include LGBTI+ issues in its work against discrimination, and this 17 May UNI will take new steps in this direction.

For more information, you can visit UNI's website: http://en.breakingthecircle.org/