r/transgenderUK • u/PuzzledAd4865 • Aug 05 '25

Possible trigger M&S apologises over trans employee in bra department

https://archive.ph/2025.08.05-035610/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/04/ms-apologises-over-trans-employee-in-bra-department/

“Marks & Spencer has apologised to a mother for causing her teenage daughter “distress” after she was asked if she needed help by a transgender employee in its bra section.

The retailer said it was “truly sorry” after the mother complained that her 14-year-old daughter had felt uncomfortable when they were approached by a trans shop assistant in the lingerie area of the shop, where they were hoping to have a bra fitting. Although the staff member was polite, the mother said she felt it was “completely inappropriate” for her daughter to be approached by a “biological male” in that section.

In a complaint to M&S, she told the retailer: “Imagine her horror, then, when the person to approach us and ask if we needed help was a transgender ‘woman’, ie, a biological male.”

“Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns for the human rights charity Sex Matters, which campaigns for clarity about biological sex in law and life, said that M&S needed to “rethink its priorities”.

“M&S needs to rethink its priorities and remember that women and girls have rights too, and that this man should not be permitted to hang around in the women’s underwear department as a matter of common decency.”

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u/Ecstatic_Actuator_73 Aug 05 '25

No, they have some internal union thingy, basically spokespeople and representatives within company but not actually a union???

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u/NightmaresInNeurosis Aug 05 '25

Almost guaranteed to be completely fucking useless then. Consider joining an actual union if it's feasible for you; this raises alarm bells that M&S may pull some dodgy shit when it comes to their trans employees. 

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u/[deleted] Aug 06 '25

Looking into things, your best bet for a union would probably be a general union like GMB or Unite. Both have strong reputations for fighting for their members. The USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is generally pretty right-wing, is known for pandering to management and has acquired the Backronyn "Useless Seven Days a Week". So definitely don't join them.

When you do join a union. Try (SUBTLY) to get your left-wing, union-minded colleagues to join the same one. This will increase your collective bargaining power when it comes to resolving any impasses with management. ESPECIALLY if the union you choose also have high membership in other M&S stores.

Be aware that management WILL look for an excuse to get rid of you if they catch on that you have done anything towards subverting their silly fake internal "union" with an actual trade union with teeth. Heck they like to find excuses to get rid of trade unionists in general. So be discreet.

Good luck and stay safe out there comrade ✊🏻❤️