In a motion on equipping branches to tackle race discrimination in the NHS, the health service group executive stressed that UNISON is continuing to strengthen its Race for Equality campaign that was a centrepiece to the union’s Year of Black Workers in 2023. Maria Alberts for the service group executive told delegates: “Racism does exist in the NHS”. She cited Too Hot to Handle, a report that “shines a light” on the lack of safe and effective means to report and then tackle problems, with, for instance, 63% of Black workers surveyed saying that they were subjected to greater scrutiny than whi ..read more

UNISON considers comments made by Frank Hester, the Tory Party’s biggest donor, that looking at Diane Abbott MP makes you “want to hate all black women” and the MP “should be shot”, to be racist and sexist, unacceptable and dangerous. Diane Abbott MP has been a significant public figure since 1987, the first to open doors into political leadership for Black women. No woman in public life should have to accept this kind of abuse and intimidation. Black women all over the UK feel labelled, hurt, and scared. UNISON unequivocally condemns Frank Hesters’s racist, violent language. The Prime Ministe ..read more

                                                                                                             Fummi Ayani. Image: Ron Lyon Mental health, especially for young people, was one of the major themes of this year’s national Black members’ conference, in Brighton at the weekend. The motion on young Black members an ..read more

                                                                                                                           Image: Ron Leon Delegates convened in Brighton at the weekend for UNISON’s national Black members’ conference, passing motions that will underpin the achievements of 2 ..read more

UNISON has been given the go-ahead to join a legal challenge of former home secretary Suella Braverman’s decision to renege on three key recommendations made by the Windrush scandal inquiry. In December, a High Court judge granted a private individual, Trevor Donald, permission to lodge a judicial review of Ms Braverman’s actions, in a hearing that is likely be heard some time between March and May this year. At the same time, both UNISON and civil rights group the Black Equity Organisation (BEO) were granted permission to ‘intervene’, or join the case. Each will be able to give evidence ..read more

UNISON is delighted to announce that Ameen Hadi (pictured) has won the 2024 Nelson Mandela Award. The award is given to those who exemplify Nelson Mandela’s values of ‘determination, a desire for unity, and strength in the face of injustice’. In gratitude to a great man who was an honorary member of UNISON, the national Black members’ committee continues to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela’s legacy and to champion those who live by his standards. About Ameen Ameen is a passionate and dedicated anti-racist and advocate for equality, equity, diversity and inclusion. In Salford, Ameen has been pivot ..read more

Today is National Windrush Day, marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the passengers of the Empire Windrush to the UK, and celebrating the contribution and achievements of those Caribbean immigrants and many others who followed. As UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea says in her blog today, if Windrush hadn’t docked at Tilbury, the country wouldn’t also be celebrating the NHS’s 75th birthday this year, because many of the Windrush generation went straight to work in the health service. But the anniversary comes amid continued controversy over the government’s mistreatment o ..read more

Today, on Windrush Day, we mark 75 years since the Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury in Essex after travelling from Jamaica. The post-war arrival of this generation of Commonwealth citizens transformed the UK and our trade union movement, as their work helped build our public services. If Windrush had never docked in the UK, we wouldn’t be celebrating 75 years of our treasured NHS this year, because many of the Windrush generation went straight to work in the health service. Although we celebrate the arrival of the Windrush generation, we cannot adequately commemorate the day until those caugh ..read more

Today UNISON presented Dr Neville Lawrence, father of Stephen Lawrence (pictured), with honorary union membership for life.  Presenting the membership at UNISON’s 2023 national delegate conference in Liverpool, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea described how the union has had ‘a long history’ of working with Stephen Lawrence’s parents, Dr Neville Lawrence and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who have both received honorary union memberships. Mr Lawrence recounted to delegates how the trade union movement was fundamental to his family’s battle for justice over the murder of their son, Ste ..read more

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 life outcomes, and these detrimental attitudes continue in our society’s institutions and increasingly online. Institutional and structural racism continue to impact BME and migrant people living in Northern Ireland. The McPherson Repo ..read more