An employment tribunal has dismissed Fife nurse Sandie Peggie's claims that her own union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), directly discriminated against her because of her beliefs about sex and gender. The judgment was made public on Monday, 2 November 2026.

Employment Judge Melanie Sangster ruled that the complaints did not succeed and were dismissed. The tribunal, which sat in Dundee between 23 September and 1 October, heard three complaints from Ms Peggie, an accident and emergency nurse at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.

What the three complaints covered

Ms Peggie accused the RCN of failing to advise her properly when she first raised concerns about sharing a changing room with a transgender colleague, Dr Beth Upton, at the hospital in December 2023. She also said the union refused her request for legal assistance for a second claim against her employer, NHS Fife, and failed to seek full assurances about single-sex toilet, washing and changing facilities.

She argued that her view, often described as sex-realist or gender-critical, that biological sex is immutable and different from gender identity, counted as a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010. The tribunal concluded that the union's actions had not been influenced by her protected belief.

Reaction from both sides

A spokesperson for Ms Peggie said the judgment made worrying reading for trade union members and raised questions about the value of membership when members report workplace concerns. Her legal team will consider the judgment before recommending any further legal steps.

An RCN spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying staff had followed agreed processes that apply to all members and had acted fairly and impartially. The union said it was sorry the matters had been aired before the tribunal.

Sources: Nursing Times, 2 November 2026; The Oldham Times, 2 November 2026.