- Conference
- 2012 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 20 September 2011
- Decision
- Carried
The Cultural and Language Barriers in the Workplace
Conference, many of our members experience communication and Language barriers in the workplace. These members are some of our most vulnerable Black workers – migrant workers, low paid members, those working in the ‘hidden workforce’ but are integral and valuable for service delivery and provision.
The reality is that language and cultural barriers and misunderstandings can get in the way of effective communication. It can affect the ability of members to organise and challenge discrimination and exploitation in the workplace. It can affect trade union organising. It can also create problems with health and safety.
In addition, their credentials and experience may not be recognised and they face difficulties at work. If majority of the staff is white they face more problems when they face discrimination. Conference, these Black members may be suffering in silence because their voices cannot be heard. This adds to the injustices they experience in the workplaces. The attacks on public services and cuts in local government funding do not help the situation. These members are also confronted with prejudice about their abilities and their rights to live and work in this country without exploitation.
Conference believes that the contribution made by these workers should be properly recognised and rewarded. Conference also believes that they need greater support in tackling language barriers and that English language training should be more widely available for migrants so that they know their rights and can integrate more successfully. Conference also believes that if these vulnerable workers who face language and other communication barriers are not supported with appropriate measures and mechanism in place then they would be disadvantaged to deliver the service.
Conference calls upon the National Black Members Committee to:
1.Work with regions to identify, contact and organise such members to provide greater support and help
2.Spread awareness with managers and supervisor about the policies and procedures
3.Support UNISON’s work with vulnerable workers and the ‘hidden workforce’.