- Conference
- 2024 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 21 July 2023
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
The history of Black women’s involvement in the union in the UK is an extended, valuable and greatly inspiring one, yet the narratives of Black women activists have often been wiped away or minimised.
Black women have long led the way in organising strategies and mobilising communities in the fight against racism and justice for Black people. Yet too often they are obscured from activist history. Providing an overview of Black women activists in England since the turn of the 20th century is an ambitious task, as the impact of these women is often not well represented or acknowledged in history.
Yet the voices and actions of Black women activists have profoundly shaped Britain. For each named individual who fought tirelessly, there are hundreds of other women who stood by their side whose names are unknown – many deserve further recognition.
Black women in UNISON belong to a proud trade union heritage who continue to lead the way in fighting and speaking out against racism, misogyny and unfairness in the workplace and society. We are at the forefront of the fight to end violence against women in all its forms, and to continue to defend a woman’s right to choose and women’s rights in the workplace.
In this struggle, UNISON Black women stand in proudly with those who have gone before us. From women like Jaybean Desai who fought for better pay, conditions and dignity for workers in 1976 and 1977 to women like UNISON’s own Gloria Mills who was elected as President of the Trade Union Congress from 2005 to 2006 and other women like them who dared to stand up and speak up for equality and fairness.
These women deserve to be recognised and applauded for the great work they have done.
Black communities throughout Britain, and Black women in particular, have always fought back against racism and unfairness experienced by Black people in Britain.
Conference therefore calls upon the national Black members’ committee to work with the national women’s committee to:
1)Work with branches and regions to raise the awareness of Black women’s history in trade unionism.
2. Encourage more Black women to become more active in UNISON.
3. Work with Learning and Organising Services (LAOS) to offer the development programme for Black members to branches.