Black members in UNISON work to improve equality in the workplace and challenge racism and discrimination.
Black members have many of the same concerns as other members regarding access to employment, pay, promotion and training. However, racist discrimination can deepen the impact of problems faced in the workplace.
UNISON’s Black members’ group (known as a self-organised group) campaigns for equality in the workplace and the wider community.
Joining UNISON helps you play an active and important role in every aspect of achieving equality in your workplace.
Speak to your local representative if you would like support or advice.
Black members’ role in UNISON
In dealing with discrimination we support workers not just in formal procedures but by developing effective responses to deeply rooted patterns of discrimination.
Many Black members take an active role in both assessment and promotion of equality in the workplace.
Challenging racism in the workplace is crucial to UNISON’s work because no workplace where racism is allowed to flourish can ever be effectively organised.
Get involved
Equality legislation provides trade unions with the means to hold employers to account, but the principles of equality can only become a reality in our workplaces if we organise around them and place them on the bargaining agenda with employers.
There is a whole spectrum of activity that members can be involved in from becoming a workplace contact to sitting on one of UNISON’s national committees.
Joining UNISON is the first step but all members can get involved in working for a fair workplace.
How Black members are organised
UNISON is committed to increasing its representation and participation of Black people within the union.
It is important that there is a visible and vocal presence of the Black members’ experience. Black members’ self-organised groups (SOGs) work in partnership with other parts of the union to identify and promote our race equality agenda.
Find out more about how UNISON is organised.
Listen to the UNISON podcast
In the latest episode of the UNISON Local Government podcast, Sandra Charles and Manjula Kumari discuss issues affecting Black members, and how proper training, education, and consideration can be implemented to create tangible change for the years ahead.