Conference deplores the fact that during the Labour Government’s second term of office, asylum and immigration legislation remains oppressive and racially discriminatory. This Conference further condemns the Labour Government’s proposal in the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Bill that proposes to withdraw the right of appeal from asylum seekers in this country. Conference applauds the work […]
Conference motions
Conference welcomes the Race Relations (Amendment) Act which places greater duty and responsibility on public sector bodies to end discriminatory practices in employment, eliminate racial discrimination and promote race equality. Furthermore, Conference welcomes the commitment to developing codes of practice for relevant public bodies. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act through the Commission for Racial Equality’s […]
Conference welcomes the introduction of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, but believes if it is to provide a framework to improve race equality in public services then UNISON nationally should be preparing regions and branches to face the challenges ahead by ensuring the Stephen Lawrence Report is acted upon by responding to the MacPherson […]
The Government has announced that it intends to create a single equality commission to champion women, gay people, ethnic minorities, the elderly and disabled people. If this radical merger takes place it could dilute the rights of different minority groups. The Government’s intention is to have one body that can enforce the rapidly expanding body […]
It has been almost ten years since the death of Stephen Lawrence. In that time we have heard Dave Prentis say: “UNISON believes that tackling the problem of institutional racism within public services is essential not only for black workers but also to improve public services”. This is why it is important to establish what […]
Conference notes that this is the tenth Conference that the National Black Members’ Committee has held but there has never been any occasion where the mass media – press, local and national newspapers and television – have given publicity to the National Black Members’ Conference, especially on the first day of Conference by interviewing key […]
Conference welcomes the organisation of a European Social Forum (ESF) in Italy in November 2002. We believe the ESF will be a unique chance for anti-racist activists and trade unionists from across Europe to come together and discuss how to organise against free market policies and Bush and Blair’s war. We support the Call of […]
The issue of race is sensitive now as at anytime in the 25 years of the Commission for Racial Equality’s existence. The far right is on the rise across Europe and, in this country, the BNP has gained a foothold in local government and this is very disturbing. There have been race riots in several […]
Conference believes that the National Black Members’ Committee over the last five years has compromised the attendance of black members from the Hindu and the Muslim community in attending the National Black Members’ Conference. Each year the National Black Members’ Conference is scheduled in either late October or early November and therefore these dates have […]
UNISON has worked tirelessly since the death of Stephen Lawrence to influence a change to the Race Relations Act. We now have those changes and must continue to make a concentrated commitment throughout UNISON at all levels to ensure that all employers, including private sector employers adhere to the recommendations and their statutory duties under […]
Conference applauds the contributions made by the black community leaders in bringing peace and harmony to the race riot torn cities in Britain last summer 2001. Britain saw some of the worse forms of race riots in cities like Oldham, Burnley and Bradford due to the weak local political leadership, poor regeneration initiatives and inequitable […]
Conference believes that UNISON black members should be represented at all local and national conferences and should also be represented on all committees throughout the UNISON structures on the same basis as low paid members and women members are currently represented. Conference therefore asks the National Black Members Committee to work with the National Executive […]
This Conference notes the proposal to join together the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and Disability Rights Commission (DRC) under one new Equalities Commission. At this stage it appears that this new Commission could also deal with lesbian and gay and age discrimination. This Conference has previously expressed concerns about the […]
University College London Branch (UCL) has been successful in persuading the employer to undertake an investigation into institutional racism. This was on the back of a number of disciplinaries affecting staff from ethnic minorities, perceived unfairness in allocation of duties and the so called glass ceiling in terms of promotion and career opportunities. The Branch […]
Conference calls upon the National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC) to work with the National Executive Council and the other self-organised groups in drafting a set of workable guidelines, to achieve fair representation, to take into account race once and for all in all structures within UNISON from the National Executive Council, service group executives and […]