Institutional Racism

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 […]

Implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

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 […]

Proposed Equalities Commission

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 […]

Institutional Racism

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 […]

Facility Time for Representatives of Self- Organised Groups

Conference calls on the National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC) to work with the National Executive Council towards a workable strategy of the recognition of duties undertaken by self-organised group representatives. This is to enable representatives of all the self-organised groups to actively participate fully in their UNISON duties without fear of loss of pay or […]

Exports of Banned Products

This Conference is angered that life-threatening products such as skin-lightening creams and so on can be produced in this country and shipped to Africa for sale, while being banned in this country. This Conference condemns the legislative loophole that permits products banned under health and safety legislation in this country to be exported from this […]

Report on Review of Black Members’ Organisation

Conference applauds the contributions of the National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC), regional black members’ groups, branch black members’ groups, and the black women’s, the black lesbian and gay members’ and the black disabled members’ caucuses to the final report on the review of Black Members’ Organisation in UNISON. Conference welcomes the final report and sees […]

Combating the Fascists

This Conference condemns the British National Party (BNP), the National Front (NF) and all parties whose policies and members attack the human rights of black people through their intimidatory campaigning and their use of direct physical violence. This Conference also condemns the shameful election of three BNP councillors in Burnley, and the significant number of […]

Underachievement and Exclusion of Black School Children

This Conference believes black children, and especially black boys, are being failed by the education system, with OFSTED reporting “inequalities of attainment in GCSE examinations place African-Caribbean, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi pupils in a disadvantaged position in the youth education, labour, and training markets, and increase the likelihood of social and economic exclusion in later life….in […]

Use of Child Soldiers in Warfare

Conference notes with grave concern that 300,000 children, boys and girls, are fighting as soldiers with government armed forces and armed opposition groups in more than 30 countries worldwide. Conference further notes that children are particularly at risk in Africa, parts of the Far East, Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean. The use of children […]

Amnesty International and Afghan Prisoners

Conference notes the call of Amnesty International for a public inquiry into the mass killings of Afghan prisoners at the Kala-I Janghi Fort and other parts of Afghanistan and is conscious of the presence of British and United States (US) Special Forces on site during the massacre and heavy bombardment of the prisoners by the […]