Unions and Pride have gone hand-in-hand since the UK’s National Union of Mineworkers’ strike in 1984, when Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) was formed by Mark Ashton. In response to the group’s support, the National Union of Mineworkers was the first Union to enshrine LGBTQ+ rights into their Constitution in 1985. By necessity, both Pride and Unionism are political. Unions are involved in politics for three main reasons:

1. Gain recognition of the right of workers to form unions and bargain collectively;

2. Protect the gains they have won through collective bargaining;

3. Promote justice and equal economic opportunity for all.

Canadian Labour Congress

These reasons can be applied in some way or another to why Pride is also political: recognition of the rights of queer people, protection of the gains queer people have won, and promotion of justice and equity for all. So what exactly is political philosophy?

“Political philosophy or political theory is the philosophical study of government, addressing questions about the nature, scope, and legitimacy of public agents and institutions and the relationships between them. Its topics include politics, liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of laws by authority: what they are, if they are needed, what makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect, what form it should take, what the law is, and what duties citizens owe to a legitimate government, if any, and when it may be legitimately overthrown, if ever.”

Wikipedia

Corporations that wish to remain politically unaffiliated use this as an excuse to not support Pride movements or Union action. The Unifor Local 111 Pride Committee takes exception with this, and will continue to fight and advocate for all workers’ rights.