UNISON at Notting Hill Carnival

UNISON joined love Music, Hate Racism, Stand Up to Racism and the National Education Union on a float at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival

HMT Empire Windrush

UNISON seeks judicial review of home secretary over Windrush

Suella Braverman has abandoned the commitment to key measures that would prevent another Windrush scandal

Christina McAnea, arms folded, in front of conference stage - 'Fighting for our future'

Blog: We can’t truly commemorate Windrush until we have justice

If Windrush had never docked, we wouldn’t be celebrating 75 years of our treasured NHS this year, because many of that generation went to work in the health service

Dr Neville Lawrence addresses conference

UNISON presents Dr Neville Lawrence with honorary membership

‘I am standing here 30 years later because of you, and all the other different unions who have been with us over the past 30 years’

Year of Black Workers at National Delegate Conference

Our Motions The National Black Members’ Committee submitted two motions to National Delegate Conference (NDC). Motion 4 – Equality is UNISON Business Motion – 52 – The Cost of Living Crisis and Black Workers If you are attending conference, please think about speaking on these important motions. The full text of each motion can be […]

Members campaigning at a stall

Stop Deportations to Rwanda

The scapegoating of refugees and migrants – spearheaded by Suella Braverman’s talk of the ‘invasion’ of Southern England by ‘illegal immigrants’, and her ‘obsession’ with deporting refugees to Rwanda – is opening the door to the far right. We have seen distressing scenes of violent attacks on asylum seeker accommodation by far-right activists. HOPE not […]

Nominations now open for the 2024 Nelson Mandela Award

Many members will be aware that Nelson Mandela was an honorary member of UNISON. In his lifetime he received over 260 awards including the Nobel Peace Prize. To honour his achievements, the National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC) present the Nelson Mandela Award each year to a Black member who has gone above and beyond. If […]

UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry

In the joint submission of the Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality and the APG on Ethnic Minority Community to Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on the experience of minority ethnic and migrant people in Northern Ireland, we highlighted the fact that disparities and inequalities do persist. Racism and discrimination remain a factor in shaping people’s […]

Highlights from the Year of Black Workers

YOBW campaign successes and highlights to date: Activities and information that are currently on the UNISON resources and bargaining section of the Black members webpage: Ethnicity Pay Gap PowerPoint Presentation Year of Black Worker LGBT+ PowerPoint Quiz We will be launching a new toolkit at the National Delegate Conference in June, aimed at activists, and […]

‘Let’s raise the bar,’ Christina McAnea tells Black members

Welcoming UNISON’s Year of Black Workers, the general secretary said: “Our union is stronger because of our Black members”

Justice for Ricky

October 2022 marked the 25th Anniversary of Lakhvinder ‘Ricky’ Reel’s death. Ricky, a 20-year-old student, and his friends were the victims of a racist attack in London. His body was later pulled from the Thames. Ricky’s mother, Sukhdev Reel says “Ricky had everything to live for. He was on a work placement in Central London, […]

Nelson Mandela Award Winner 2023 – Carol Sewell

We are delighted to announce that Carol Sewell has won the 2023 Nelson Mandela Award. Carol says “In my early retirement year, I am so blessed. I couldn’t believe that I was chosen. It is a great honour to accept this award from the National Black Members Committee and I would like to thank everyone […]

Black History Month 2022 graphic. Black background. UNISON logo in white at top left. October in grey capitals over 2/3 of the background, with UNISON Black members webpage url over that, in white. In the right third, the words UNISON celebrating in grey, with Black History Month below in rainbow colours

Blog: Power and unity – the theme for this year’s Black History Month

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Black workers and communities and it is vital to focus on challenging racism in the workplace

Black Lives Matter

The phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ was seen across our screens and streets following the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. Black communities asked society and organisations like UNISON, what they would do to tackle racism and discrimination head on. There is a need to demonstrate with actions how we are committed to being an anti-racist […]

Message of Support for the Chris Kaba Campaign

24 year-old Chris Kaba was killed following a police car pursuit on 5 September which ended in South London. An inquest into Mr Kaba’s death will be opened on 4 October. In a statement the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it would “explore all of the circumstances surrounding the unarmed father-to-be, including whether […]