EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS & THE NEW SINGLE EQUALITY BILL

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Conference
2011 National Black Members' Conference
Date
7 January 2011
Decision
Carried as Amended

Conference recognises and welcomes the Single Equality Bill which will change discrimination law in a number of important ways. We are concerned however, that a new wave of restructuring across the Public Sectors (inc. Local Government, NHS, Higher Education & Voluntary Organisations) are to have a negative impact on Black, Low Paid, Women, Disabled, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) and Union activists.

As part of the restructuring process, Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) are not being undertaken, appropriately used, or at best being initiated during or at the end of a consultation process in restructuring/re-organisation.

Employers are using the current ‘economic climate’ argument to create crisis and dismay amongst staff groups, which has lead to poor practice and Black staff groups identified for redundancy. In some cases our members are subjected to the disciplinary process in order to remove them without any form of redress. This is, and will continue to have a negative impact upon Black staff, when they are already feeling they are at their most vulnerable in the workplace and society.

We would hope that the EIA’s and the new Single Equality Bill will seek to address the current practises, and measure the element of discrimination in recruitment, selection criteria, retention and promotion of Black employees, discriminated and under- represented groups.


We must promote and ensure that the new guidance on this matter is used to ensure that employers across the service groups start implementing positive action.

Conference calls on the National Black Members Committee (NBMC) to:

1.Work alongside the National Executive Council and other regional groups to ensure that EIA’s and the new Single Equality Bill are used in a positive and non-discriminatory manner to promote the well-being of Black staff.

2Work with Regional Black Members Committee in gathering statistical information on the number of EIA within branches and how they are affecting Black, Low Paid, Women, Disabled, LGBT and Union Activist.

3.Work with the region and paid officials to ensure that the EIA’s are completed prior to proposal on restructures and reorganisations being formalised.

4.Report back to the NBMC Conference 2012 on work that has been undertaken on this initiative.