EMPLOYMENT tribunals rarely create waves. But the case of Mrs S Peggie v NHS Fife and Dr Upton is holding both political parties and public bodies to account while forcing a reality check on the trade union movement. 

Sandie Peggie’s claim against NHS Fife is for sexual harassment, belief discrimination and victimisation. A nurse with 30 years’ service, she objected to sharing a female changing room at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy with a male doctor who identifies as a woman. Her employer’s policy meant her single-sex changing room was now mixed sex. 

She raised her concerns with her line manager before an incident one night when she expressed her discomfort directly to Dr Upton. He complained, resulting in her investigation for misconduct and suspension. The class power dynamic of the situation is difficult to overlook.