Sex Workers Union Explained

In the United Kingdom, the Sex Workers Union (SWU) is the sex workers' branch of the trade union Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU).

The SWU represents people including full-service sex workers, strippers, webcam models and pornographic actors.

History

The organisation was established in 2018 and was formerly called the United Sex Workers (USW),[1] [2] a branch of United Voices of the World (UVW).

In 2023, the USW disbanded and its former members joined the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union (BFAWU)[3] as the Sex Workers' Union branch.[4]

Campaigns

As the USW, members campaigned against Deliveroo's policy on sex workers and said that this led Deliveroo to change the policy.[5] [6]

The union believes that its members should be classified as members under UK labour laws, and takes legal action on this matter.[7] For instance, in 2020 Sonia Nowak with the aid of the union won a legal case classifying strippers as workers, not independent contractors.[8]

The SWU has campaigned against the closure of strip clubs.[9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

The union has been involved in numerous campaigns and protests, including the "Red Umbrella" campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the violence and discrimination faced by sex workers.[14]

Media coverage

The Sex Workers Union has been subject to coverage in Studies in Political Economy, Vice, and Social and Legal Studies.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Where did SWU begin? Est. 2018 . swunion.co.uk . Sex Workers Union . 22 October 2023.
  2. Web site: Sex workers of the world, unite. Daisy. Steinhardt. March 24, 2022. Bristol24/7.
  3. Web site: Goodbye and Good Luck Sex Workers!. United Voices of the World. 28 April 2023.
  4. Unionising Sex Workers and Other Feminists. Katie. Cruz. Social & Legal Studies. 6 October 2023. 10.1177/09646639231206695 . Sage Journals.
  5. Web site: Deliveroo drops discriminatory policy against Sex Workers after pressure from Unions! . 2023-03-17 . Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) . 19 September 2018 . en-GB.
  6. Web site: Deliveroo drops discriminatory policy against Sex Workers after pressure from Unions . 2023-03-17 . en.
  7. Barbagallo . Camille . Cruz . Katie . 2021-09-02 . Dancers win at work: unionization and Nowak v Chandler Bars Group Ltd . Studies in Political Economy . 102 . 3 . 354–375 . 10.1080/07078552.2021.2000208 . 246092492 . 0707-8552. 1983/26d54dac-e026-4466-8215-7d9d48886d22 . free .
  8. Web site: Strippers union United Voices of the World (UVW) wins landmark legal victory proving strippers are 'workers', not independent contractors . 2023-03-17 . en.
  9. Web site: Marlow . Abigail . 2023-03-02 . Huddersfield stripper 'looking forward to work' as club given new licence . 2023-03-17 . YorkshireLive . en.
  10. Web site: Reporter . Local Democracy . 2023-03-15 . Delay to strip club licensing scheme after 'nil cap' struck down by legal decision . 2023-03-17 . The Edinburgh Reporter . en-US.
  11. Web site: Ward . Sarah . Farr . Jacob . 2022-06-04 . Union backs Edinburgh sex workers in fight to keep strip clubs open . 2023-03-17 . EdinburghLive . en.
  12. News: Forbes . Ellie . Strippers raise £20,000 to fight Edinburgh clubs ban . . en . 2023-03-17 . 0140-0460.
  13. Web site: 'I'll Have to Leave Edinburgh': Sex Workers' Fears After the City Bans Strip Clubs. Novara Media.
  14. Web site: Sex Workers Are Being Detained at the US Border . 2023-03-17 . Novara Media . en.
  15. Cruz . Katie . 2023-10-06 . Unionising Sex Workers and Other Feminists . Social & Legal Studies . en . 10.1177/09646639231206695 . 263812976 . 0964-6639. free . 1983/c8d4b606-7703-4dde-8859-63efbda205a9 . free .

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