Fife trans row nurse Sandie Peggie takes Royal College of Nursing union to employment tribunal

Sandie Peggie is at the centre of a second employment tribunal case in Dundee after taking action against the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union in a dispute over her gender critical beliefs.

The Fife nurse has brought a legal case against her own union over what she claims was direct discrimination because of her gender critical beliefs.

Ms Peggie originally brought a case against NHS Fife after sharing a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital in December 2023.

The employment tribunal awarded Ms Peggie a partial victory against the health board in December last year, upholding claims of harassment against her employer, but dismissing allegations of discrimination, indirect discrimination and victimisation.

The high-profile case became a flashpoint in a row over gender rights, with a number of gender-critical groups, along with author JK Rowling, voicing support for the nurse.

Now, Ms Peggie has brought forward a legal case against the RCN over the support it offered during the dispute with NHS Fife.

Ms Peggie’s team are expected to claim that the RCN failed to advise her in January 2024, after her suspension from NHS Fife, that she had a legal claim against her employer.

The nurse’s case also claims that the union refused her request for legal support in January 2025 during Fife Health Board’s handling of her disciplinary investigation.

Ms Peggie’s case also claims the union failed to adequately advocate for her when she sought guarantees from Fife Health Board that changing facilities should be single sex.

She is seeking a finding that the union discriminated against her because of her gender critical and sex realist beliefs.

The RCN denies the claims.

Ms Peggie was the first witness called when the tribunal got under way on Wednesday.

The hearing will sit between September 23 and 25, September 28 and 30, and October 1.

The tribunal, taking place before Employment Judge Melanie Sangster, continues.