To create an enduring legacy for change, UNISON declares 2023 as the Year of Black Workers. The Year of Black Workers campaign launched in Cardiff by Wales’ biggest public sector union.
In an effort to leave an enduring legacy that will inspire change, UNISON Cymru/Wales, which represents tens of thousands of public sector workers, will honor Black workers throughout 2023.
The Year of Black Workers 2023 initiative formally launched at UNISON House in Cardiff on March 14, 2023, at 6:15 p.m.
The public service union campaign demanded that all union divisions fight institutional racism and implement a race-discrimination procedure to give black members legal recourse against employment discrimination.
Employers required to implement mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting by the union’s branches using a toolkit for that purpose.
The goal of Unison’s campaign is to create a legacy of action. Which will challenge the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Acts, address contemporary slavery. And it encourage the inclusion of black history in the curriculum.
UNISON Cymru/Wales regional secretary Dominic MacAskill and the organization’s first female convenor Jan Tomlinson were among the speakers at the launch event.
Kebba Manneh, head of the UNISON Cymru/Waales black members committee said:
Kebba Manneh, head of the UNISON Cymru/Wales black members committee presented the event. He said: “This UNISON campaign emphasizes the obstacles that Black workers face while focusing on measures to dismantle discrimination and racial inequality.
“The biggest organized Black workforce in the UK, UNISON employs. About 185,000 Black people, most of whom work in local government and the health sector.
“The Year of Black Workers initiative encourages and mandates that all UNISON sections do more to fight systemic racism”.
Dominic MacAskill, regional secretary of UNISON Cymru/Wales said
“Systematic racism means that Black workers are not having chances to move up pay scales, get promoted, or work in sectors with high pay rates.”
“UNISON is proud to launch our Year of Black Workers campaign here in Cardiff. We believe that UNISON has a crucial role to perform in addressing these issues.
Our branches and regions will assist and train Black members. Also the development and recruitment of Black workers to UNISON. Legacy and change are the two main drivers of our mission.
Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj said:
”Black workers need better working conditions. Thus trade unions must develop conspicuous campaigns that attack the root of racism in the labor market.
“The lack of diversity in unions at all levels is something that needs to be actively addressed by unions. This should set an example by providing safe, welcoming environments for black union reps and officials.”
