Commenting on a report published today (Wednesday) by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into the scale of racial harassment at UK universities, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said:
“This report is shocking and details some horrific incidents. It’s clear racial harassment is rife throughout the whole higher education system, but it’s not just students – staff suffer too.
“It is disgraceful and more must be done to stamp out racism from all institutions. Universities must improve the way they handle complaints, make it easier for people to come forward and emphasise that racism and abuse have no place on any campus anywhere.”
Notes to editors:
– The EHRC report Tackling Racial Harassment: Universities Challenged is available here.
– UNISON is the biggest union representing health workers. It is also the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 020 7121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
