Trans Rights Group Faces Union Backlash After Sudden Staff Sackings
Image: Image: https://transequality.org/about-us
Advocates for Trans Equality is facing accusations of mistreating its workers after layoffs that the organisation’s staff union says cost nearly half its membership, with one employee describing receiving their termination email while recovering from pregnancy loss.
Twelve union employees finished work on September 30, according to LGBTQ Nation. The departures followed a dispute over proposed savings, bargaining deadlines and staff access to sick leave, with staff recieving one single line email advising of their termination.
Advocates for Trans Equality faces backlash
“Dear Employee, September 30th, 2026, will be your last day of employment at A34TEEF” read the termination email sent this week.
The Union for Trans Liberation, which represents A4TE staff, said workers had told management they would use their negotiated sick and healing leave on September 23 and 24 because the impending redundancies were affecting their mental and physical health.
According to the union’s Instagram statement, management characterised the planned leave as an illegal work stoppage and warned employees they could face disciplinary action, including dismissal.
“The impending layoffs and A4TE’s callous approach to the process has taken an immense toll on our mental and physical health, so we let them know that members would be using their bargained-for sick and healing time on 9/23 and 9/24 as the layoff deadline approached. Management responded by threatening our jobs.” they wrote.
The union said that response dismissed the health consequences workers were experiencing and discouraged them from using their leave entitlements.
It also accused management of bargaining in bad faith during a September 24 negotiation session, rejecting cost saving proposals and refusing to extend talks before proceeding with its proposed layoff list.
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Advocates for Trans Equality’s leadership has attributed the cuts to financial pressure. According to LGBTQ Nation, the organisation reported a $2.4 million deficit and said it had reduced discretionary spending, postponed hiring, combined positions and cut management and executive pay. Leadership maintained that the union’s proposed alternatives would not close the funding gap.
For former employee Devon Ojeda, the dispute coincided with a devastating personal loss.
In a comment on the union’s Instagram account, Ojeda said they had spent weeks navigating early pregnancy while knowing their job was at risk. They then learned they were miscarrying twins.
Ojeda wrote that the employment email arrived just hours after a D&C procedure, while they were physically recovering and grieving.
“We poured everything we had into building our family,” Ojeda wrote.
Reflecting on six years of service, Ojeda described helping rebuild relationships and restore community trust in the organisation.
The union said it would file a grievance alleging management failed to make its best efforts to prevent layoffs and properly consider alternatives. It also said it was prepared to bring unfair labour practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board.
Despite the departures, the union said its remaining members would continue pursuing accountability.
“Those of us who remain are as fired up as ever to seek justice for our Union siblings.”
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