It would be great if we had one UK organisation/body that could speak on behalf of independent sex workers in terms of politics, discussions with government etc., and act as a counter to the assumption that all sex workers are trafficked, coerced or pimped.

If there was a sex workers union I would definitely join it.

As well as speaking up for us on the current issues we are facing, I would really love a union that gives us access to things like.

Insurance cover, life insurance/critical illness/car
Sex industry friendly mortgage brokers, accountants
Legal advice if we run into problems.

I have not been able to get critical illness cover as a sex worker.  If a union could help us get that I would be very happy as would others.  Most trade unions offer deals on insurance etc as a standard perk.

I also had a horrendous experience a few years ago with a so called professional in a profession I listed in my original post who said they were fine with what I did when I used their services, then went on to cause me horrendous issues as it turns out they hated what I did for a living which took quite a while to sort out. 

I wish we were the same as people with regular jobs maybe I am very unlucky but people can be prejudiced to what we do, and having people who are accepting of our profession can save a lot of problems.

amy, it might be worth saying that ECP and SWARM members are supporting this effort and we are all working under the umbrella of the national campaign for decriminalisation (i've posted about meetings here). The idea is to join our struggles with those of other marginalised workers. Also, the drive is starting with strippers as they do have workplaces.

amy, it might be worth saying that ECP and SWARM members are supporting this effort and we are all working under the umbrella of the national campaign for decriminalisation (i've posted about meetings here). The idea is to join our struggles with those of other marginalised workers. Also, the drive is starting with strippers as they do have workplaces.

Well that's good to hear - part of what I was getting at was that there are already myriad groups and organisations and if people aren't getting involved with supporting them, then they won't maintain interest in a new one once the novelty's worn off.

If it also means the stupid infighting and squabbling between organisations (and worse, within single ones too) that I remember from years ago has gone then that's only for the good of everyone. My experience is that they're something of an echo chamber and getting people seriously interested who don't fit into the typical core demographic is extremely hard, and understandably most people don't want to think about work when they're not working.

As regards the professional services, there are good and bad with everything and many have professional bodies that their clients can contact if anything untoward happens (my accountant when I had one was in ACCA, for example) and as we've seen, claiming to be sex worker 'friendly' doesn't mean a thing. Most people only ask about them because hiring a professional who knows they're a sex worker before they even walk in the room means they don't have to tell them, so they're basically allowing a very brief conversation they might prefer not to have to potentially significantly affect them finding the best person for the job and continuing to perpetuate stigma into the bargain.

Equally, nobody has to wave a placard around or rant soundbites with the Twitter cliques if they don't want to - going into a solicitors office or meeting with an independent mortgage broker and saying 'I'm a self employed sex worker and I'd like some help with X and Y' does immeasurable good all by itself. Every post anybody makes on here which demonstrates that they're an ordinary, fully functioning adult does too .

GMB are affiliated with the IUSW sex work organisation, I've been a member for a long time and have benefited from their free legal advice both personal and work life.

That's good to know, and also a good example of what I meant - I'd completely forgotten about the IUSW and it's so long since I've heard anything from or about it I had no idea it was still going.

Well that's good to hear - part of what I was getting at was that there are already myriad groups and organisations and if people aren't getting involved with supporting them, then they won't maintain interest in a new one once the novelty's worn off.

If it also means the stupid infighting and squabbling between organisations (and worse, within single ones too) that I remember from years ago has gone then that's only for the good of everyone. My experience is that they're something of an echo chamber and getting people seriously interested who don't fit into the typical core demographic is extremely hard, and understandably most people don't want to think about work when they're not working.

As regards the professional services, there are good and bad with everything and many have professional bodies that their clients can contact if anything untoward happens (my accountant when I had one was in ACCA, for example) and as we've seen, claiming to be sex worker 'friendly' doesn't mean a thing. Most people only ask about them because hiring a professional who knows they're a sex worker before they even walk in the room means they don't have to tell them, so they're basically allowing a very brief conversation they might prefer not to have to potentially significantly affect them finding the best person for the job and continuing to perpetuate stigma into the bargain.

Equally, nobody has to wave a placard around or rant soundbites with the Twitter cliques if they don't want to - going into a solicitors office or meeting with an independent mortgage broker and saying 'I'm a self employed sex worker and I'd like some help with X and Y' does immeasurable good all by itself. Every post anybody makes on here which demonstrates that they're an ordinary, fully functioning adult does too .

That's good to know, and also a good example of what I meant - I'd completely forgotten about the IUSW and it's so long since I've heard anything from or about it I had no idea it was still going.

Yeah when I came into sex work I was in I think Unison, when I told them I was now self-employed and the sector they advised moving to GMB. At the same time I'd heard about the IUSW-GMB association, so it made a lot of sense.

The subs are of course a business expense and like I say I've received useful legal advice, which I'd otherwise have had to paid for - one of which enabled me to deal with a civil case on my own. The other was regards a directory who were using a business clause/law thingy to try and lock me into a renewal. That was when I leaned business 'consumers' do not enjoy the same protections as someone paying for something as a personal purchase.

Probably paid for it via all the subs, but I just like having it there just in case. Also end of the phone advice can be more convenient, as well as give some people in some circumstances a element of discretion. Yeah professionals should be discrete, but as we see in posts here (and also my experience) sometimes feels better if Miss A in tiny town can speak to Solicitor XYZ in London or wherever, or accessing advice locally might actually bring her into contact with clients.

Anyhow I digress.

IUSW allow bosses to join though and define as "Sex workers"

That's a mix of the GMB rule book and the fact that it's quite easy to cross the line. Sublet your working flat and you become someone running a brothel. Does that mean you should be thrown out?