Barriers to Progression and Promotions for Black Employees

This NBMC is deeply concerned that Black workers experience severe disadvantage in job promotion and career progression prospects. In line with UNISON’s objective of negotiating and bargaining on behalf of members and promoting equality, this NBMC asks NEC to work with the National Black Members’ Committee to: 1)Produce a report which collates statistics from each […]

The Bicentenary of the Transatlantic “Slave Trade” Legacy

Conference will be aware that 2007 was the year of commemorating the beginning of the end of enslavement of Afrikan people. There was a wide range of remembrance events taking place in the UK. Many, however, missed the fact that it was only the transatlantic trade that ended 200 years ago. This probably increased the […]

Use of Disciplinary Procedure Against Black Staff

This National Black Members’ Conference notes that there is a disproportionate amount of Black members and black UNISON activists who are subject to disciplinary procedures and victimisations within the workplace. This leads to the question of whether disciplinary procedures are being applied fairly and equally to all staff. A consequence of this is that the […]

Black History Month

Conference notes that too often the history, perspectives and contributions of African, Asian and Caribbean communities are not reflected in the educational curriculum, employment or society. Crimes committed against Black people including empire and colonialism are often presented as positive achievements with the reality of what they meant for millions of people and their ongoing […]

End the Occupation of Iraq: Don’t Attack Iran

Conference notes that four years after the invasion of Iraq, the US-led occupation has had a horrific human cost on Black people, including the deaths of 655,000 Iraqis, and 3,352 US and 147 British troops. The past year has seen violence escalate to unprecedented levels. The occupation has been brutal, with the use of chemical […]

Zero Tolerance of Racism in Community Health Centres and Primary Healthcare Centres

Conference is deeply concerned that Black healthcare workers and social services staff who work in communities are often the subject of racist abuse and sometimes racist violence. Hate crime against primary healthcare workers and other frontline staff is increasing. Conference welcomes the policy of Zero Tolerance in NHS departments such as A&E, hospital wards, etc […]

Black Community Projects in Crisis

National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC) is concerned to learn that:- Birmingham City Council (BCC) is carrying out radical changes to the way it delivers services. A newspaper article in July 2007, revealed the Council’s plan to axe 1000 jobs in the Finance Department by October 2007, as part of its cost cutting exercise. The Council […]

Iraq’s Anti Trade Union Laws

Conference deplores current anti trade union legislation there. In addition Black members in Scottish branches express deep concern at the UK/UK Occupying forces and Iraqi government’s reluctance to repeal the Baathist inspired laws prohibiting trade union activity in the country. Conference therefore urges the National Black Members’ Committee to call for the National Executive Council, […]

Humanitarian Crisis in Burma

The Black members have always supported UNISON’s International campaign against on going serious human rights abuses and the humanitarian crisis in Burma. Therefore, Conference once again this year, calls upon the NBMC to work with the National Executive Council’s International Committee in urging the British Government to lobby the Government of Portugal through their EU […]

Disclosure Policy/Procedure and Black People

Conference welcomes the current legal requirement of carrying out security checks for all employees working with vulnerable people. However, Conference deplores the impact of the current procedures on Black workers. In particular it deplores the high costs involved which are quite often detrimental to Black people especially if due to unavoidable circumstances they cannot get […]