UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea took aim at Reform, the Labour government’s failures and the ethnicity pay gap at the union’s Black members’ conference today.
After the original conference was postponed due to flooding in January, and speaking in the sunshine of Brighton after the success of Reform at the local and mayoral elections in England 10 days earlier, the general secretary predicted the Tories could be “soon be finished as a political force” but that Labour also had “much to do to win back support”.
Ten months on from the general election, Christina admitted: “It’s fair to say it’s not all been plain sailing for the Labour government – and ministers have made decisions we definitely don’t support – it’s still a massive relief that we no longer have a Tory government.
But on the rise of Reform, she said that suggestions that staff working in equalities teams or on net zero policies in the ten local authorities now controlled by Reform might want to start looking for other jobs will have rung alarm bells for the union’s local government members.
“Andrea Jenkyns, the new mayor of Lincolnshire, says she wants the county council to have a leaner workforce,” said Christina. “But she might want to check her job description. Staffing matters at the council aren’t within her remit. She’s not even a councillor
“No matter what Nigel Farage or Andrea Jenkyns think, no one is above the law.
And as you know, the best protection anyone can have when faced with bad employers, isn’t the law but to be in a strong union.”
Christina warned that the newly-elected Reform councillors “are in for a shock. They’ve promised voters they’ll cut waste,” she said. “But local authority finances are in a terrible state. After 14 years of Tory austerity, there’s nothing much left to cut.
Now Reform will have to deliver but I suspect most of its new councillors have no idea how local government works or indeed what it’s for.
“We know UNISON members will have voted for Reform so we need to convince them that Reform isn’t the party for working people , public service workers or public services.
“And that can be tough given some of the actions of the Labour party – cutting winter fuel payments, attacking benefits for disabled people, no justice for WASPI women. All things we have absolutely opposed.
“But conference, it is also true that much of what this union has been fighting for – in some case, for many years – is now happening.
“The Employment Rights Bill going through Parliament. A once-in-a-generation upgrade to rights in the workplace.
“Or the fair pay agreement in adult social care. Action being taken – at long last to begin to give this criminally overlooked sector the status it deserves.
“An end to zero hours contracts and fire and rehire. Sick pay from day one – no more care workers having to go into work when they’re sick because they can’t afford to take time off. All opposed by the Tories and Reform.
“Conference, these policies would not have come about without a Labour government. And they would not have come about without UNISON campaigning on issues that matter to our members.”
Windrush success
Another issue that the union has campaigned on is Windrush and the general secretary highlighted another success for the union’s legal team: “Conference, last year I made a promise to you. I said that UNISON would always stand with the Windrush generation.
“Last year we took, and won, a legal challenge against the Home Office in the High Court over broken promises made by Suella Braverman when she was home secretary. The courts found she had acted unlawfully
“This summer we will see an independent Windrush commissioner appointed.
Their role will be to create lasting change in the Home Office to review progress made with the Williams ‘Lessons Learned’ review.
“The commissioner’s role will also include effective delivery of the Windrush compensation scheme. To ensure those affected get maximum support and compensation – without delays.
“We will keep pressing for justice. We will keep pressing for change. Not just for past injustices – but those still happening today.
“Conference, I am painfully aware that – regardless of which party is in power there are unique challenges facing our Black members in their workplaces.
“And I want to assure you that your union stands side by side with you in your fight for justice and racial equality. We are affiliated to the Labour party and we will make demands for race equality central to their policies, but at the end of the day – and I give you this commitment – my loyalty – our unions loyalty will always be to you and our union – no matter what political party is in power.”
Another issue the union is talking to government about is the ethnicity pay gap. Christina called it “a blatant reflection of racial inequality. One that has such an impact on families, on opportunities and on life chances.
“So, led by the National Black members’ committee – UNISON has made this a flagship campaign. Calling for mandatory reporting and action plans
“While I welcome the government’s plans for a race equality act, UNISON will keep the pressure on ministers to ensure it is delivered.”
And while racism at work still affects far too many people in the UK, UNISON’s challenging racism toolkit provides practical tools and training to fight racism
Christina told delegates that while regions and employers are adopting the union’s anti-racism charter, “we know adoption is not enough. We need to see results and real change.
“And Our Black members have been instrumental in feeding into the COVID Inquiry.
The pandemic revealed the disproportionate impact on Black workers – on your health, your safety and your livelihoods.
“UNISON’s continued involvement in the inquiry will make sure the voices of Black workers are properly heard and their sacrifices are never forgotten.”
Race discrimination
In December last year, the union publishes its own race discrimination inquiry. “I launched this with our Black members’ committee to make sure we got our own house in order,” said Christina “and we heard from our own Black members on their experiences of raising issues in UNISON.
“I want to pay tribute to those members who came forward and the Black members committee members who gave their time to this and the staff who worked with them.
“This report lays out bold recommendations to address workplace discrimination.
As part of this, the union has recommitted itself to fighting for the rights and dignity of Black members across the UK. And although we’ve made great strides, this work is far from over.
“If our ambition is to eradicate workplace racism. If we want to make sure all employers understand the seriousness with which our union approaches tackling and defeating racism.
“We need to make sure there are no barriers in our own union. I am fully committed to this work. I give you this commitment. This report will not sit on a shelf – this is not job done – this is job started – we will be implementing all of the recommendations.”
Christina went on to highlight work the union is doing that impacts on Black workers and communities, including supporting the family of Zane Gangbola as they push for an independent inquiry into his death and the rise of hate crimes and far right violence.
On the latter she said: “The racist rioting and violence we saw last summer was utterly despicable. There were truly sickening scenes. Of mobs cheering as buildings housing vulnerable asylum seekers were set on fire.
“People were targeted solely because of the colour of their skin.This was a result of the far right seeking to weaponise the tragedy in Southport.
“An appalling attempt to distort the truth and scapegoat Muslim people.
“The far right has no interest in the truth. They only want to stoke division. Conference, UNISON will continue to resist this every step of the way.
Supporting migrant workers
The general secretary also highlighted the work the union s doing in standing up for migrant workers, “highlighting how essential their work is to the services so many people depend upon and campaigning for justice – both in the workplace and when it comes to the UK’s immigration rules.
“Conference, I’ve been shocked by the stories of cruel exploitation experienced by overseas workers, especially in the care sector.
“It is totally unacceptable. Migrant workers deserve support and thanks for the contribution they make. They deserve to be treated as human beings, not exploited by unscrupulous employers.
“Overseas care staff have had to share beds with other workers. Others have had to sleep rough. Some have paid thousands of pounds to intermediaries in return for jobs before they even arrive.
“They’re then housed in overcrowded, substandard accommodation. And subjected to appalling racist abuse. That’s no way to treat workers propping up the crisis-stricken care service.
“It’s hardly surprising visa applications for health and care workers have plummeted – down 81% on the previous 12 months. It’s hardly surprising overseas care workers no longer want to come here.
“But the UK care sector needs them. It is already thousands of workers short.
Migrant care staff are preventing the care sector from collapsing.
“Thanks to our campaigning on this issue, many overseas care workers now belong to UNISON. And more are joining every day.
“Conference, we want our members to live without the fear that their employer can have them deported if they don’t comply with unreasonable requests or challenge their treatment at work.
“So, we will continue to campaign to take the power of visa sponsorship away from employers in the social care sector. And UNISON will continue to challenge unjust immigration fees and rules.
“And we will be there as a union when our members need help. Every UNISON region and nation now has a migrant worker lead. They have received training, advice and guidance on key issues for our migrant worker members.”
‘Let’s fight for future generations’
Christina concluded her speech by stressing the big challenges ahead: “It has never been more important to recruit Black members into the union. To ensure Black workers remain visible, vocal and powerful. And have a voice at every level in our union
“Our NEC elections are running now – so please make sure you vote and ask all your colleagues and friends who are unison members to vote
“Conference UNISON is more than a union. It can be your platform to demand change. It can be your shield against discrimination. And it must be your partner in securing real progress.
“Let’s keep up that fight – not just for today, but for future generations.
“Together, we will fight racism, close the pay gap, build a fairer more just society. And we will do it together in UNISON.”
The article ‘The union is your shield against discrimination’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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