Nurse Tells Tribunal She Felt Discriminated Against by Union in Transgender Changing-Room Dispute

DUNDEE — Scottish nurse Sandie Peggie has told an employment tribunal that she felt “unsupported” and discriminated against by her trade union during a workplace dispute involving a transgender doctor and access to a women’s changing room.

Peggie is bringing a case against the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), alleging that the union failed to provide adequate advice, support and legal assistance because of her gender-critical beliefs. The RCN denies the allegations.

The case follows an earlier dispute at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where Peggie objected to sharing a changing room with transgender doctor Dr Beth Upton in December 2023. Peggie was subsequently placed on special leave by NHS Fife.

During Wednesday’s hearing in Dundee, Peggie said she believed an RCN representative was not taking her concerns as seriously as she was. She said she felt unsupported during the dispute and had lost confidence in the representative’s advice.

Peggie previously brought a case against NHS Fife. In December 2025, an employment tribunal upheld her harassment claim against the health board but dismissed her claims of discrimination, indirect discrimination and victimisation. The tribunal found that several procedural failings by NHS Fife amounted to harassment.

Her current case alleges that the RCN failed to advise her in early 2024 that she might have a legal claim against NHS Fife and later refused to provide legal support during the health board’s disciplinary process. She also alleges that the union did not adequately advocate for her request for assurances concerning single-sex changing facilities.

Peggie told the tribunal that she had initially been unfamiliar with the term “gender critical” and later came to associate it with her position on access to women’s changing facilities.

The hearing also examined comments Peggie made during her confrontation with Dr Upton. She acknowledged making a comparison involving transgender prisoners and accepted that the remark could be viewed as discriminatory. Her legal representatives argue, however, that the RCN failed to provide her with adequate support because of her beliefs.

The RCN has rejected Peggie’s allegations. The union has previously stated that it is committed to combating discrimination and supporting its members in accordance with employment and equality law. Its published guidance states that discrimination based on protected characteristics is unlawful and that workplace disputes should be addressed through appropriate procedures.

The latest tribunal proceedings are expected to examine whether the RCN’s treatment of Peggie amounted to unlawful discrimination because of her gender-critical beliefs. The case is being heard in Dundee and is continuing.