THE SCOTTISH REGION of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has sparked controversy by submitting a motion calling for equality for ‘polyamorous’ relationships to a conference of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Polyamory is the practice of engaging in multiple sexual or romantic relationships at the same time.
The motion, which will be debated at the forthcoming Scottish TUC’s LGBT+ workers’ conference in Glasgow, declares that ‘polyamorous relationships are just as valid as monogamous ones’ and calls for full legal protections – such as by way of equal inheritance and parental rights – to be afforded to ‘polyamorous people’.
A senior source in the national union told this blog that the motion had ‘caused quite a few jaws to drop’ and that some Scottish officials had ‘gone rogue’. The source added: ‘When the text of the motion started circulating, a lot of people thought it was a wind up. Sadly, they were wrong.’
The controversy has even made the pages of a several national newspapers, including the Times. And in a blog post, the leading feminist campaigner Julie Bindel called the Scottish region’s proposal ‘madness’.
It is not clear whether Scottish members were consulted on their region’s demand for equality for polyamorous relationships. It is hard to believe that the cause would have more than minimal support among rank-and-file firefighters.
Neither the FBU’s executive council nor annual conference – the parliament of the union – has ever debated the demand, let alone decided that it should be a campaigning issue for the union.
It is also not clear whether, before submitting the motion, the Scottish region gave any consideration to the potential consequences of its demands. For example, equality under the law for polyamorous relationships would have the most far-reaching impact (financially and otherwise) on occupational pension schemes and the state benefits system. It would also fundamentally alter the nature of society as we know it.
What we appear to be witnessing, then, is an attempt by a small and unrepresentative group of officials to use the vehicle of the FBU to advance their own personal radical agenda. It is exactly the type of thing that alienates members and makes the union look like it’s out of step with mainstream opinion.
The motion should be withdrawn without delay.
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The full text of the motion is:
That this conference notes, there are no legal protections for polyamorous people in Scotland, they can be discriminated at work and in wider society.
According to a survey by YouGov, 2% of Scottish adults said that they had been in a consensual non-monogamous relationship at some point in their lives. The same survey found that 10% of Scottish adults had been open to the idea of non-monogamy.
The stigma around polyamory needs to be challenged. While polyamory is perfectly legal, it is not recognised as a protected legal status under the Equality Act 2010. This can have consequences with regards to inheritance, parental rights, and legal questions on medical decisions. Polyamorous relationships are just as valid as monogamous ones.
Conference calls on the STUC LGBT+ workers’ committee to create a working group to look into the rights of polyamorous people, with consideration given to potential legislative changes to protect their rights.
Mover: Fire Brigades Union
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