- Conference
- 2022 Virtual Higher Education Conference
- Date
- 13 October 2021
- Decision
- Carried
Conference, the international outrage following the death of George Floyd, saw the Black Lives Matter movement take centre stage. Having suffered years of marginalisation, entrenched barriers, structural and institutional racism – people across the world came together to say enough is enough.
The worldwide protest of predominantly young, multi-racial people, demanding justice, and an end to police brutality and racism, calling for society to deal with centuries of oppression of Black people.
The movement also challenged the injustice of racism within modern day society. For example, we know anyone can be infected with COVID-19, it is not however, affecting all communities in the same way as highlighted by the disproportionate number of deaths in the Black community.
Despite the lockdown, thousands of people campaigned for justice and an end to centuries of racism and differential treatment, not just at the hands of the police, but in all aspects of society.
In Britain, the movement also focused on Britain’s imperial past – the lack of Black history being taught in schools and universities, and the fact that numerous statues and monuments celebrate the supposed achievements of invariably rich and powerful individuals, who benefited directly or indirectly from the slave trade, which was instrumental in the development of the British Empire that continues to impact on many Black people across the commonwealth.
Within many universities there is a familiar pattern of a disproportionate number of Black staff who are significantly over-represented in lower grade jobs and under-represented in higher grades. Black people working in lower paid, but essential jobs as highlighted by the pandemic, include cleaners, porters, caretakes, catering and security staff. Black workers should expect the same level of opportunity and progression within the higher education workplace.
Trade unionists should demand an end to all types of discrimination, because it is so often used to create false divisions when the interests of all working people should be the same.
The Equality and Human Rights Committee report into racial harassment in higher education (Tackling racial harassment: universities challenged) was published in October 2019. The report highlighted the extent of racial discrimination experienced by staff and students on campuses across the UK. Universities UK (UUK) convened an advisory group to publish new sector guidance on taking serious action to tackle this problem.
The ethnic pay gap in higher education has also highlight that Black staff earn significant less than their white counterparts. The sector needs to ensure that staff data is as accurate as possible so that this problem can be proactively addressed, with real, measurable, actions to be implemented and monitored by employers and trade unions.
The Black Lives Matter movement deserves the support of UNISON, and all higher education trade unions, to formulate demands on employers and campaign to achieve genuine racial justice within higher education.
Conference notes that Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) no longer collects and publishes staff data relating to support staff grades meaning that greater engagement is required at a local level to monitor staff demographics and progress in making sure that the workforce is representative and that Black staff have the opportunity to progress in their careers.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to:
1)Continue to engage in discussions with the Vice-Chancellors to implement practical measures (such as anonymised recruitment, fair recruitment advisors, dedicated time off from work/day release for up-skilling) to create genuine equality of opportunity at universities, specifically in relation to new appointments.
2)Explore and discuss how UNISON can work with the Vice-Chancellors to improve the quality of staff data in order to calculate and publish their ethnic pay gaps, and agree action plans to address and reduce pay disparity.
3)Circulate the new UUK guidance on tackling racial harassment to all branches and support them in working with universities to address the issue of racial harassment and discrimination to ensure it is no longer a feature of working life in universities.
4) Work with sister higher education unions to promote the inclusion of Black working class history in the higher education curriculum.
5)Maintain total opposition to organisations that incite racism and racial harassment from speaking on higher education campuses thus creating a hostile environment affecting Black staff and students.
6)Encourage branches to support Stand Up to Racism, Show Racism the Red Card and Black Lives Matter events across our branches and regions.
7)Provide support for, and empower, Black university workers to organise within UNISON and its self-organised group structures, promoting the idea that the trade union movement can bring the power of a united working class in confronting all forms of inequality and discrimination.
8)Signpost branches and regions to resources and how to provide training to all Branches on Challenging Racism in the Workplace to equip branch officers and reps with the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and tackle racism effectively.