‘A union where Black workers are protected’

Sandra Okwara, Andrea Egan and Kevin Imoloame. Credit: Marcus Rose

UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan opened Black members’ conference with a speech in which she committed to ‘a new chapter’ for Black union members.

She also gave two prominent UNISON activists awards.

Sandra Okwara (pictured left) won this year’s 2026 Nelson Mandela Award, which is given to those who exemplify Nelson Mandela’s values of ‘determination, a desire for unity, and strength in the face of injustice’.

Kevin Imoloame (pictured right) won the 2026 young Black members’ award UNISON activists under 27 who are dedicated to race equality and passionate about improving workplaces.

Watch Andrea’s full speech on YouTube

“For too long, Black members have carried the weight of discrimination cases that drag on for years, disciplinary processes that fall disproportionately on your shoulders, and workplaces that treat equality as an optional extra.

“I know the hurt, the frustration, the exhaustion that comes from being ignored or sidelined by employers when you raise racism. When your grievance sits unanswered,” she said. “When the trauma is compounded by delay, denial, and silence.”

Andrea explained that, when she was UNISON president in 2023, she led the Year of Black Workers. Now, in her post as general secretary for the next five years, she outlined her vision:

“A union where Black workers are protected, represented, and empowered. A union that uses its collective bargaining strength to challenge racism head on. A union that organises to win.”

A bigger, stronger UNISON

Andrea stated that the fastest-growing part of UNISON’s membership is migrant workers, particularly migrant care workers, many of whom are Black and of African origin.

“Your fight is UNISON’s fight. Your fight is my fight,” she said.

“Together we have to defend jobs. Together we have to protect pay. Together we have to campaign for £15 an hour. Together we have to fight austerity and the cost of living crisis that hits Black communities hardest. We will push for better pay and pensions across public services. And together we have hold to employers to account when they fail our members.

“Tackling racism in the workplace requires more than statements. It requires action.”

Andrea committed to turn the recommendations of the UNISON Race Discrimination Inquiry into action.

“We will support branches to take on employers who fail to protect Black workers. We will ensure equality is not an afterthought but a core industrial issue. This is about justice in the workplace. Fairness in practice, not just policy. Dignity for every member.”

Andrea welcomed the Labour government’s commitment to making ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory in the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, but said that UNISON will be also demanding mandatory action plans.

She also committed to working with employers across the UK to sign up to the union’s anti-racism charter.

Reform UK

Speaking to the wider political environment, Andrea said the government and Reform UK were painting a false picture that claimed migrant and trans people are a danger to women and girls.

“This transphobic and racist rhetoric does not protect women — it endangers us. It fuels the real causes of harm: misogyny, underfunding, and the privatisation of public services.”

“Right‑wing forces have disguised a class war as a culture war. And I do include Reform UK in that category, selling us a story that asylum seekers seeking refuge in this country are the cause for our broken infrastructure. When it is the rich and powerful who seek to profit from our labour.

“It is years of underfunding from successive governments who choose to fund illegal wars, who profit from arms flowing from the UK to Israel to fund a genocide in Palestine so that their land can be stolen, it is private profiteering that sucks out profit on the back of our labour to build up their stocks and shares.”

A union that organises and challenges

Andrea concluded her speech with a summary of her vision. Under her leadership, UNISON will be ‘a union that stands shoulder to shoulder with Black workers every single day, a union that turns pain into power, a union that delivers change you can see and feel in your workplaces.’

“Together, we will build a union that truly reflects the strength, resilience and leadership of Black workers. A union that fights for justice. A union that wins.”

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