Tackling Racism

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Conference
2003 Health Care Service Group Conference
Date
1 December 2002
Decision
Carried

The Health Group Executive notes the NEC commissioned, 2001 and 2002 Labour Research Department reports of surveys into action by employers and Unison branches on tackling institutionalised racism since the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report in February 1999. Conference notes the disappointing response to the questionnaire which could indicate that racism is not seen as a key priority by some branches.

The Health Group Executive welcomes the NEC decision to identify tackling racism as one of the key priorities for the union and its decision to set up a group to develop a unison-wide race strategy. We also welcome the development of service group and regional action plans.

We are totally committed to the development of a union-wide strategy and in demonstrating that commitment, recognise there is much that can be done to support health branches in tackling racism in the NHS.

The Health Group Executive calls on conference to urge health branches to identify tackling racism as a key priority and an effective organising tool. As such it should be at the heart of their branch development plans – to identify what we want employers to do and what we want members to do. The Improving Working Lives initiative provides focus for this work.

Furthermore, the Executive calls on conference to support plans to produce campaign materials and ask Regional Health Committees to take a lead in co-ordinating and monitoring, including the take-up of specific training (on tackling racism in the workplace) amongst health activists to assist with this organising strategy.