#ill reformat this when im on my laptop at some point tomorrow

[spuddlespud]

I've been seeing a lot of posts talking about trans people feeling scared and lost, and I have one useful thing to say which is JOIN A UNION.

Nows the time to get involved:

Attend your workplace trade union meeting and bring a motion on support for trans people. It will probably pass.*

Ask for casework support from your union when you have meetings/issues - they're there to help

Ask your reps to take a motion to your local trades council (a collection of unions in your area)

Ask for money to start projects, do some outreach or run an awareness event or know your rights events - unions have money and love to spend it on useful things

Ask your branch to donate to charities (normally a locally based charity)

Ask for resources to put out at work, ask your rep to arrange a talk in the office or to review your equalities policies (if your rep doesn't reply ask other people in your branch)

I literally got involved in my last union branch because they gave me money for a project I was working on.

I've seen old school trade unionists (as pontificating and bureaucratic as you might think) risk decades long friendships by standing up and ardently telling them to stop being "gender critical". I've seen a cis man address a union meeting of 100 people and successfully argue down terfs. Trade union banners turn out at anti-transphobia and anti-racism rallies every time near me. **

*Spuds guide to writing motions: clearly state what you want in a way that can be voted upon, keep it short and sweet, bullet points are your friends. Some people use the 'this branch notes: [context and links]' 'this branch believes: [political stance e.g. x is wrong]' 'this branch agrees: [action points to be voted on] (I have a really basic 'we support trans people and will put our pronouns on zoom meetings' type one I can DM to anyone who wants it, or if you want to send me any to read through)

**I'm not trying to paint a rosy picture, there are issues with racism and transphobia within the left, and within unions, and there's a lot of work to do. But in my experience, a lot of trade unionists are queer and are making changes, and there are a lot less terfs than you think (although as always they do like to make a lot of noise).

Also my experiences are from the UK and its likely with upcoming legislation that our unions are going to be reclaiming some of the power and rights that have been stripped from us, which is good news and a great time to be a union member.