- Conference
- 2024 National Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 7 December 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference, when looking at measurements of engagement such as representation on branch and national committees and attendance at service group and Black members’ conferences the activism levels of Black members in the health service remains an area of concern.
Conference should resolve to undertake a mapping exercise to better identify the representation and engagement levels of Black members in the health service group and further to identify how many branches have Black members self-organised groups.
UNISON is committed to achieving equality for all and one of the ways the union promotes equality is through self-organisation. Self-organisation brings together members from certain groups that face discrimination and helps the union identify and challenge discrimination and build equality.
Conference commends the work in the health service group, the ‘One Team Awards’ which was launched in 2023, and other service groups and regions in the union that has seen branches come together to organise regional or geographical cluster groups for Black members where individual union membership has been persistently low and it has been more challenging to organise.
Conference therefore asks the Health Service Group Executive Committee to look at utilising this good practice to support health branch Black member self-organisation by:
1. Undertaking a further mapping exercise to identify the representation and engagement levels of Black members in the health service group.
2. Working with the national Black members committee, regions to facilitate these meetings and ensure that they are properly resourced.
3. Adopting clear and transparent communication channels that should be established to ensure that Black members, are aware of available opportunities for progression within the union and skill development programs.
4. Reporting on this progress at the next Health conference in 2025