Phil makes the Pinc list

The Pinc list is an annual celebration of the most influential LGBTQ+ people in Wales, and this year Unite activist and rep Phil Jones joined their ranks after being nominated.

Phil is the first trade union rep to ever be recognised on the list. He said the news “came out of the blue.” and he is very pleased to be able to highlight the work that unions do to support LGBT+ workers and champion causes that impact on them in the workplace.

Responding to the news Phil said: “As trade unionists we know it’s the collective that matters and I don’t see this recognition as being just for me – it recognises the work of the movement in promoting LGBT+ equality.”

Phil is a Senior Workplace Rep at Barclays and is also chair of the Finance and Legal NISC and Unite’s National LGBT+ committee as well as representing Unite on a number of TUC committees.

Phil explained that the committees he chairs lead on a number of campaigns to improve the rights of the LGBT+ community at work as well as raising equality issues that can affect them.

“I am involved in promoting equalities, and linking in with the industrial agenda. The committees I chair also are heavily involved in campaigns, most recently around banning conversion therapy. This is something we have been doing for two or three years now and hope that a new government will result in some positive moves.”

Being from South Wales and growing up in a trade union family in the valleys around Swansea it is unsurprising that Phil has been involved in supporting workers in the steel industry.

Phil said: “In 2016 we set up a “LGBT+ Take Pride in British Steel” campaign highlighting not only the importance of the industry, but also that all steel workers, regardless of their sexuality, should be respected.”

“With the recent events at Tata this year we have reignited this campaign and held a very successful fringe meeting at this year’s TUC LGBT+ Conference!”

“Just like LGSM (Lesbians and Gay Support the Miners) in the 1980s we said that “Your Fight is Our Fight!”.”

Phil started work at Barclays in 1988 and joined the union that day, within months was a rep. He said, “I was very much in the closet in the 80’s. It was a “nobody is gay in Wales” sort of thing. But of course people were, and in all industries and workplaces.

“However I was lucky that I worked in a very progressive sector and for a company that supports LGBT+ workers and the community. But some other sectors were, and still are, very difficult.”

“This was one reason I got involved in the equalities arena to support colleagues in other industries.”

Despite the Pinc List recognition, Phil isn’t sitting on his laurels. There are a number of things that he feels Unite, and members, can do to further support workers from the LGBT+ community. 

Phil explained, “I think it is vital that we encourage members to update their equalities data on their membership records. Historically membership forms didn’t include a tick box for LGBT+ members, or members may have been uncomfortable being open about this. However without the correct information members can be disenfranchised, and it important that it is up to date.”

“There is also the issue of mental health support. Unite is doing some fantastic work to support mental health at work, and the training for reps through Unite Education is very good. But LGBT+ workers are more prone to mental ill health due the external pressure of growing up in a hetero normal society – so it is vital that Unite reps enrol on this training and learning to look for the signs and how to support all their members at work.”

For more on Unite’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans + campaigns go here.

For more on the Pinc list go to Wales Online.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Mark Thomas