The Trade Union Pre-Conference held as part of the ILGA World Conference 2024 in Cape Town brought together trade unionists, labor rights advocates, and LGBTI+ activists from across the globe. The event provided a crucial space to address the intersection of labour rights and LGBTI+ advocacy, amplifying the role of trade unions in advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice for sexual and gender minorities in workplaces and societies at large.

The pre-conference focused on a clear and urgent theme: the growing backlash against LGBTI+ rights around the world and the responsibility of the global trade union movement to respond with solidarity, strategic advocacy, and inclusive bargaining. Participants from over 30 countries, representing both national and global unions, emphasized that organization is key for any marginalized group seeking recognition and protection. One presenter called for “Money, Mass, and Mobilisation”, which captured the strategic pillars needed to build power, economic resources, membership strength, and coordinated action.

The event highlighted how trade unions can and must play a transformative role in creating workplaces free of discrimination and harassment. One of the central messages repeated by participants was the duty of trade unions to represent all workers equally, regardless of their identity. This includes making deliberate efforts to advocate for LGBTI+ rights, racial justice, gender equity, and the inclusion of people with disabilities. As one participant from the Global South aptly put it, when trade unions collectively take a stand on issues impacting underrepresented groups, they gain substantial leverage in influencing both employers and policymakers.

Several trade union representatives shared experiences of successful organizing efforts and campaigns aimed at addressing LGBTI+ workplace discrimination, achieving trans-inclusive healthcare, and securing protections in collective agreements. These practical examples underscored the importance of incorporating minority rights into bargaining agendas — including anti-discrimination clauses, workplace safety protocols, inclusive benefits, and gender identity recognition policies. The importance of negotiating around issues such as harassment protections, healthcare coverage for transgender and intersex employees, and creating inclusive workplace cultures was repeatedly emphasised.

Participants expressed enthusiasm and motivation to carry the lessons of the conference back to their own unions and regions. They committed to several action points, including promoting allyship without overshadowing LGBTI+ voices, holding similar training events, establishing networks for mutual support, holding union leadership accountable, and ensuring that bargaining efforts explicitly address the needs of minorities. Many participants also stressed the need to build stronger data collection systems to document violence and harassment against LGBTI+ workers, which could be used as a basis for advocacy.

Throughout the pre-conference, a strong call was made for trade unions to intensify their involvement in national and global advocacy for LGBTI+ rights — including the decriminalization of same-sex relations, access to legal gender recognition, and protection from hate crimes. Discussions extended to the need for trade union movements to integrate LGBTI+ concerns into their core agendas, training manuals, and policy frameworks. The creation of inclusive spaces for queer youth, older adults, and gender-diverse workers was seen as essential to building lasting solidarity and inclusive labour movements.

Inspiration and determination marked the close of the event, as participants outlined the “way forward” for the global trade union movement. These steps included: building cross-border coalitions, producing manuals for inclusive labour practices, fighting for protective legislation, ensuring implementation of ILO Convention 190, and fostering deeper engagement with LGBTI+ workers. Calls were made for greater representation, more frequent listening sessions, and sustained pressure on union leadership to prioritize inclusive labour rights.

The Trade Union Pre-Conference successfully achieved its goal of raising awareness of LGBTI+ rights as a trade union issue and reached a wide range of stakeholders. It reaffirmed the unique power and responsibility of trade unions to act as vehicles for social justice, not just economic justice, and to ensure that no worker is left behind in the fight for equality and dignity at work.