This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "International Union of Sex Workers" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
International Union of Sex Workers
International Union of Sex Workers
AbbreviationIUSW
Founded2000; 24 years ago (2000)
Location
  • United Kingdom
Key people
Ana Lopes
AffiliationsGMB
Websitewww.iusw.org

The International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW) is a United Kingdom-based trade union for sex workers. It campaigns for the decriminalisation of prostitution, and to have sex work acknowledged as viable labour. In 2002, members voted to affiliate with the GMB, a general workers union. The union now has official recognition as the sex industry branch of the GMB.[1] Some of the services offered by the union include: self-defence classes, free legal advice and training for members who wish to leave the sex industry.

The union was formed in 2000 partly as a response to actions taken by Westminster City Council in London to try to remove prostitutes from the area.

They are a member of Backlash, a pressure group formed in 2005 in order to oppose a new law criminalising possession of "extreme pornography".

See also

References

  1. ^ Lopes, Ana; Webber, Jennifer. "Organising sex workers in the UK: what's in it for trade unions?" (PDF). University of the West of England. Retrieved 16 April 2018.