UNISON local government conference passed a motion on supporting Black workers in local government.
Introducing the motion, James Minto from the national Black workers executive said, “Black workers are the backbone of local government. In social care, housing, waste services and community support, they are there, holding up the foundations. Yet when we look up the ladder, to decision makers and senior leadership teams, it changes dramatically. We remain disproportionately underrepresented.”
The motion commits UNISON to review existing policies and practices in local government so that institutional racism can be addressed.
UNISON firmly believes that every Black worker should have equal access to professional growth and advancement, irrespective of their background or contract type.
Yet research shows that Black workers remain “disproportionally underrepresented” at middle and senior management levels.
In support of the motion, one delegate spoke of her own experiences. She explained how white colleagues were supported to apply for promotion without further training or study, whilst Black colleagues were passed over or told they were under qualified. Yet when Black workers requested time off to study, they were told that they could not be spared from the team. “It’s a familiar pattern,” she said.
Sharon Foster of the service group executive, spoke powerfully of the impact discrimination and career stagnation has had on Black members.
“Discrimination leads to a lack of opportunities and to career stagnation,” said Ms Foster. “Our members face persistent challenges in progressing to middle and senior management roles, particularly those on fixed term contracts.”
One delegate, told of her fight as a social worker to be promoted. “When I walked into the room for my sixth interview with the same panel, I made a joke to them about, ‘Oh here we are again’. But I wasn’t giving up. I was determined. Eventually I got the job, but it wasn’t easy and it shouldn’t have to be that way.”
Conference supported the need to collaborate with employers to ensure a firm commitment to creating an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. The need to actively promote the career progression of all Black workers, including those on fixed-term contracts, was also approved.
The article Seeking workplace equality for Black workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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