A-Infos (en) France, UCL AL #374 - Trade Unionism & Anti-Patriarchy: Fighting Transphobia through Union Action (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Since the start of the summer, the Solidaires union federation has 
offered a new tool designed to make our unions central players in the 
fight against transphobia within our workplaces. It provides an 
opportunity for union members to educate themselves and push for new 
union demands. --- The rise of transphobia in Western societies in 
recent years is undeniable. Issues surrounding access to employment-and 
job retention-are strategic for our social class's struggles. 
Discrimination against trans people drives them further away from the 
stability that benefits our collective efforts. Fighting a system that 
deprives some of us of employment also means taking action against the 
precariousness faced by trans people.

Supporting Trans Employees
To uphold our vision of a just society, it is essential that our unions 
take a more active role in addressing the transphobic violence present 
in our workplaces. But how?

Published by the LGBTQIA+ committee of the Solidaires Informatique 
union, the guide "Fighting Transphobia through Union Action" (*Lutter 
syndicalement contre la transphobie*) was released in June 2026 and is 
available in both digital and printable formats. First, the guide 
compiles tools for learning about workplace rights regarding situations 
faced by trans people. It gathers-in one place-all the relevant legal 
provisions that can be invoked in union-led defenses against 
discrimination and against sexist or sexual violence. It is highly 
useful for knowing where to look for information and for providing a 
reference point during meetings, for example. Even more importantly, the 
guide includes a list of legal precedents that can be used to strengthen 
the union's bargaining position. From supporting someone during their 
coming-out process to employing standard forms of collective action, a 
wide range of tools is available to effectively support trans 
colleagues. A particular highlight is the practical tutorial on the 
"Clerc method," which is used to demonstrate wage discrimination. One 
section of the guide is dedicated specifically to the administrative 
procedures involved in changing one's legal gender status; it highlights 
the importance of workplace-related steps in supporting legal ones, as 
well as the impact the latter can have on work schedules.

Transforming our structures
Finally, a section of the guide focuses on union action and the 
practices we should champion in our struggles. While it includes 
specific demands, these primarily serve to back proposals to be advanced 
within our organizations. A wide range of actions is listed-from 
training and the implementation of ethical charters to updating 
occupational risk assessment documents (DUERP)-allowing everyone to pick 
and choose what will help improve their workplace and combat the 
exclusion of trans people from employment.

More than just a training tool for our unions, this guide brings to 
light the collective battles we must wage and the clear objectives we 
need to pursue. Fighting transphobia means more than simply showing 
support for trans people; it means leveraging our collective strength to 
reject their exclusion and transform the spaces inhabited by our social 
class. Similarly, championing workplace self-management means actively 
instilling our values and practices there, starting today. We hope this 
guide gives fresh momentum to our union struggles against 
transphobia-ensuring that being LGBTI is no longer synonymous with 
social marginalization, and that our workplaces can serve as training 
grounds for colleagues who have no other access to such opportunities.

Ness (UCL Marseille)

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Antipatriarcat-lutter-syndicalement-contre-la-transphobie
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