- Conference
- 2004 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 31 October 2003
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes the publication of the report Cyclonic Organisation Authority, Culture and Racism by Lambeth Council and of the report of the Lambeth Scrutiny Commission on Racism. We note that UNISON co-operated in the publication of both of these reports, which highlighted the problem of institutional racism in Lambeth Council.
Conference further welcomes the decision of the Employment Tribunal in the case of Owolade v Lambeth that sacked UNISON shop steward Alex Owolade was unfairly dismissed. Conference therefore believes that Lambeth Council should reinstate Alex Owolade.
Conference supports the work of the London Region and the Lambeth Branch to learn from the lessons of this experience and believes that these lessons have relevance beyond the particular local circumstances from which they have arisen.
Conference therefore calls upon the National Executive Council, service group executives and regions to:
1) encourage the establishment (or re-establishment) of black workers’ groups in all UNISON branches;
2) put pressure on employers to:
a) accept their responsibilities under the Race relations Act and Race Relations (Amendment) Act and to implement, monitor and report on the action they take as a result;
b) facilitate self-organisation by black and ethnic minority UNISON members, including permitting paid time off for meetings and for the work of representatives;
c) not victimise union representatives who combat racism at work;
d) reinstate union representatives who have been unfairly dismissed for having fought racism at work;
3) lobby the Government and(through UNISON Labour Link) the Labour Party to secure the recognition of the work of self-organised groups as a trade union duty for the purposes of time off work;
4) support vigorously union representatives who are victimised for raising issues of racism at work.