Last Updated: 15 June 2009

No compromise on equality

(15/06/09) Equality has to be at the heart of everything that we do it's a commitment that cannot be compromised.

That was the overarching message as delegates debated a raft of measures to further the equalities agenda.

Dierdrie Costigan, for the LGBT self-organised group, told conference that "the Human Rights Act provides some core trade union rights" that could help activists in a number of ways.

Doncaster local government branch's Jim Board told delegates about the election as mayor of an English Democrat who had immediately withdrawn council funding from the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride march.

The news that the local union had already stepped in to secure funding after this "attack on diversity" was greeted with applause.

Conference instructed the executive to consider ways of addressing these issues within local government.

The executive was also instructed to work with branches and regions to:

• deliver the Challenging racism in the workplace project within clearly identified timescales, and promote the project toolkit;



• work with branches and regions to collate examples of workplace racism and publish this information;

And Khi Rafe for the national Black members' committee, warned conference that, if she had to come back and contribute to the same discussion next year, after discussing it for a decade already, she wouldnt be able to answer for her words.

And she noted that: "We need to use the law. The law is as redundant as a pebble on Brighton beach unless you use it."

On the local government equality framework, which replaced the equality standard in April, a number of measures were agreed, including:

• updating the Green Book to ensure that the framework is detailed and replaces the references to the equality standard for local government;



• working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ensure monitoring and addressing compliance issues are dealt with;



• producing guidance to ensure that local authorities implement the equality duties and equality legislation to ensure equality is a requirement in procurement activities and that unions are consulted on equality and diversity.

Delegates also noted the publicity for the initial case of Ms Ladele v London Borough of Islington, where a registrars appeal after refusing to take civil partnership ceremonies gave the impression that religious belief was an acceptable reason for discriminating against LGBT service users.

The appeal which received considerably less publicity reversed that.

Conference reiterated that nobody could "refuse to deliver services because of religious beliefs public services must be provided for all, without prejudices or discrimination."