2007 PROVIDES us with a unique opportunity to refl ect on the brutality and horrors of the trans-Atlantic slave trade which aff ected millions of African and Asian people. It also gives us a renewed incentive to look at how ordinary, working people helped abolish a heinous crime against humanity.

At UNISON, the public services union, we believe that unless we understand the scale and brutality of the slave trade and the excesses of colonialism which followed, it is impossible to fi nd solutions to the destructive legacy of racism and inequality in our workplaces and society.

The facts speak for themselves: Black and Asian workers are more likely to be unemployed, to work in junior positions in organisations, and to earn less than their white counterparts. This is more than 30 years after the Race Relations Act 1976 introduced legislation to combat indirect discrimination, and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, introduced a duty on all public authorities to promote race equality and eliminate race discrimination.

The most recent statistics from the 2006 Labour Force Survey show that the Black and Asian employment rate is 59.7%, up by 1.9% from 2003. As the national employment rate across all groups is 74.7%, this still represents a gap of 15%.

Once in work, Black and Asian workers tend to be concentrated in lower-grade positions. The State of Equality in London report found that only 18% of managers and senior offi cials and fewer than 21% of professionals working in London were from Black and Asian groups. While in the FTSE 100 companies, only 2.3% of directors were from Black and Asian backgrounds.

Black and Asian workers also tend to be concentrated in particular sectors and occupations, while being virtually excluded from others. Moreover, Black and Asian workers earn an average of £7.50 an hour, compared with an average of £8 per hour for white workers (2004 figures). The CRE reports that this pay gap actually increased between 1998 and 2004.

Many Asian women suff er even greater disadvantage. For example, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are more likely to be graduates than white British men and women, and at 16 they are better qualifi ed than boys, but this is not refl ected in their pay or their positions of seniority.

While a range of factors have been identified as causes of labour market disadvantage among Black and Asian groups, UNISON is in no doubt that the main reason for the continuing inequality is the failure of government and employers to deal with race discrimination and ensure equality of opportunity in recruitment, selection, appointment and career progression.

Hamid Rashid, Chair of UNISON Scotland's BME Group, said: "It's not just about getting into the job market. Asian workers are more likely to be disciplined at work, more likely to be in temporary jobs, more likely to be at the bottom of the workforce, and more likely to be harassed."

Rashid blames a lack of political will: "Race has dropped off the agenda. There is no minister pushing it forward and instead debate is directed towards anti-terrorism and security. The talk is about how to integrate Muslims into the community. We need to direct that debate to addressing the issue of race discrimination".

This is why UNISON is working to create a society where everyone is included based on our values of mutual respect. We endeavour to end the discrimination in employment, poverty and social exclusion suff ered by Black and Asian people, while working to close the employment gap between Asian and white workers. We have been campaigning hard to force Public Services to take seriously their duty to combat racial discrimination, and to promote training for Black and Asian workers, with special measures to tackle the exploitation suffered by Black and Asian female employees.

It is no coincidence then that those Black and Asian workers who are members of a union earn salaries which are 32% higher than nonunion members. This is simply because trade union's can negotiate signifi cantly better terms and conditions for workers.

Black and Asian workers have always been at the forefront of global change - from the Gate Gourmet and Grunwick Strikes to the struggle to abolish the slave trade - our history and involvement in trade unions teaches us lessons from one of the greatest global campaigns. Unity is strength - people from all sections of society working together to take a stand against injustice. This tradition of struggle is a positive legacy which we need to carry forward in 2007 and beyond.

So join UNISON today and help challenge racism in the workplace and society.