Sex workers are workers — so why shouldn’t they have the right to organise?
For Sex Worker Pride, we’ve been looking back at the history of sex workers’ unions in the UK and how workers have come together to fight for better working conditions, safety and rights.
Sex workers have been organising for decades. Long before there were dedicated unions, workers were creating their own networks and supporting each other around issues like healthcare, safety and working conditions.
A major moment came in 2000, with the creation of the International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW). The organisation is sex worker-led and campaigned for the rights of people working in the sex industry.
Then, in 2002, the IUSW partnered with the GMB to create the Adult Entertainment Branch. This was a huge step forward, bringing sex workers into mainstream trade union membership and giving them a recognised space to organise around their rights at work.
The branch showed that, while organising sex workers isn’t always easy due to many different social and political difficulties, it is possible. It also highlighted how much traditional trade unions can learn from sex worker-led organising, particularly when it comes to self-organisation and building community.
GMB and IUSW campaigned against laws that increased criminalisation of sex workers. In evidence to Parliament, GMB argued that increased criminalisation was against the interests of sex workers and could also harm people experiencing exploitation.
What Trade Unions Support Sex Workers?
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) takes a clear “sex work is work” position. The union supports the full decriminalisation of sex work and a full pardon for sex workers convicted under existing sex-work legislation. It also supports sex workers organising within the union, including creating networks where workers can access advice and support. Importantly, the IWW supports working alongside sex-worker-led organisations and encourages its members to campaign for decriminalisation within the wider trade union movement.
In 2018, sex workers began organising through United Sex Workers (USW), working with United Voices of the World (UVW). The group supported workers to collectively challenge poor working conditions and exploitation.
In 2023, the Sex Workers’ Union (SWU) was established as a branch of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU).
SWU continues the work of putting sex workers at the centre of campaigns for better working conditions and full decriminalisation. It represents people across different areas of sex work, recognising that sex work isn’t one single experience.
Why does this matter?
Unionising gives workers a collective voice. But sex workers can face extra barriers because of stigma, criminalisation, self-employment and the often-isolated nature of their work.
That’s why sex worker-led organising is so important.
The history of sex workers’ unions in the UK shows that workers have always found ways to come together and fight for change — from the IUSW and GMB partnership in 2002 to SWU today.
And the message remains simple:
Sex work is work. Sex workers are workers. And workers have the right to organise.
For Sex Worker Pride this year we want to spotlight these organisations which offer union support to sex workers in the UK:
What you can do
You can show your support by downloading the posters we have made for Sex Worker Pride 2026 here:
One of the strongest things that you can do to be an ally to sex workers is to email your MP. Whether you support the right of people selling sex to work together for safety, to access safe and stable housing, to access appropriate and non-stigmatising healthcare, to achieve greater autonomy and independence at work, or to have stronger abilities to access legal remedies when their rights are not met or they experience harm at work – share with your MP why decrim matters to you and how it will make your community safer.
We also recommend following the work of sex-worker led organisations across the UK and beyond to find out about other opportunities you can support, including Decrim Now and the English Collective of Prostitutes, and other local collectives across the country. Keep up to date with their campaigns and find out about how you can continue to show your support for sex workers’ rights.
Basis Yorkshire also run CPD-certified training courses which focus on sharing best practice on working with women sex workers, understanding the law and how this impacts sex workers. Follow our Eventbrite to find out when the next one is running.
Get support
If you or someone you know needs support, please contact us:
Call: 0113 243 0036
Email: info-basis@basisyorkshire.org.uk
Or you can make a Referral if the waiting list is open.