- Conference
- 2023 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 20 July 2023
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes that this is the Year of Black Workers. UNISON has an estimated 185,000 Black members.
Racial discrimination and unfairness continue to be an every-day experience for Black people at work, and in wider society. Even within our own union and within the self-organised groups (SOGs) there are barriers to Black members achieving their potential and fully contributing to the union.
Conference notes that over recent years National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Plus (LGBT+) conference has seen fewer and fewer Black members attending. Conference further notes there are currently only five Black members on the national LGBT+ committee, the lowest number in over 15 years, with not a single Black member representing any of the regions or other caucuses. This send out a stark message to Black members thinking of getting involved in our SOG.
This year most regional LGBT+ groups will have had their AGMs and elected their representatives on to the national committee. Conference hopes that there will be more Black members elected from the regions, and not just the five members from the Black members caucus. However more work needs to be done to break down barriers to Black members standing for, and getting elected to, the national committee.
Conference further believes that, in the Year of Black Workers, it is most disappointing that this year’s conference takes place on Diwali, the most celebrated day for many people from the Indian and Hindu communities. This is a day where families come together and celebrate, just like Christmas or Easter. By having conference on Diwali, some Black LGBT+ members won’t have been able to attend conference. These days are published over 10 years in advance.
Conference is disappointed that conversations do not appear to have taken place with the Black caucus on other options for members observing Diwali to be able to participate at this conference.
Conference instructs the National LGBT+ committee, working with other parts of the union and the conference team as appropriate, to:
1)Seek an undertaking that the dates for future LGBT+ conferences will not clash with Diwali
2)Report back to the Black caucus and 2024 conference as to how the decision was made to allow this year’s conference to take place on Diwali and what, if any, alternative options were considered;
3)Consider apologising to our Black LGBT+ members for reducing the potential participation at this year’s conference by having conference on Diwali;
4)Work with regional groups to identify and seek to implement steps to encourage and support Black LGBT+ members to participate in our SOG and to seek election to the national committee via their regions;
5)In 2024 Year of LGBT+ workers, hold specific events for Black LGBT+ members to increase participation.
6)Consider having Black member representation on our international delegations (for example, to ILGA Europe and ILGA World conference)and if Black members cannot be found on the national committee, to consider looking to the LGBT+ regional committees for potential delegates.