30 | THE VOICE MAY 2023
BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE 2023
FIGHTING RACISM ISN’T AN OPTIONAL EXTRA
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GEORGE FLOYD’S murder by Minneapolis policemen ignited widespread protests throughout the US and globally #BlackLivesMatter, a Blackled movement demanding police accountability and justice, galvanised anger and frustration over structural racism. It was against that backdrop, and in response to Black workers in Britain experiencing awful working conditions during the pandemic, that we launched the TUC Anti Racism Task Force. This was our second anti-racism task force, the first being set up following the murder of Stephen Lawrence. The conversations started by Black Lives Matter are woven into an environment where microaggressions - verbal, behavioural and environmental indignities that are often unintentional, but communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial insults are often a daily experience for Black workers. More fundamentally, the direct discrimination highlighted in our Still rigged: racism in the labour market report blights the lives of millions of Black people. The TUC is determined that fighting racism, prejudice and discrimination is not considered an optional extra, something to be tagged onto our everyday work.
The TUC will continue to champion anti-racism across the union movement, writes Kudsia Batool Kudsia Batool
NOT INNOCENT: Black Lives Matter protesters make clear the UK needs to face up to racism (Getty)
IMPLEMENTATION
Tackling racism must be part of our movement’s DNA in the same way as winning better pay, defending workers’ rights and securing health & safety. And we still have room for improvement. The TUC Implementation and Oversight Group is steering the next phase of our work on anti-racism, and working with unions to implement our antiracism manifesto and action plan. These are absolutely vital resources for unions and have been shaped by important research, notably studies giving voice to Black workers from across the movement. They set out what we must do to make sure we secure economic and social justice for Black communities. They describe how we will refresh, renew and reboot the movement’s campaigning, organising and bargaining work. And they highlight what we need to do to tackle racial inequalities in our workplaces and communities.
And crucially, our manifesto and action plan outline how we can turn our race equality aspirations into reality. Britain may be more diverse than a generation ago, but there is still a long way to go before we become a more equal society. With structural racism still undermining the lives of too many workers, with Britain facing one of the worst cost-of-living crises on record, and with a well organised and resourced far right on the march, none of us can afford to relax our guard. There is much more we can - and must - do. The TUC’s top priorities are as follows: Putting race at the centre of collective bargaining Bringing unions and employers together to work for change that will make workplaces safer, more inclusive and fairer. Harnessing the strategies
that our unions have already demonstrated are most effective in winning progress on racial justice in the workplace.
ORGANISING
Working together with our affiliates across sectors and regions to recruit Black members, build networks of Black activists, and support Black union leaders and reps through TUC-led training programmes.
PUBLIC POLICY
Giving voice to the experiences of Black workers during the pandemic and demanding that lessons are learned. And putting forward an agenda that will deliver protections for Black
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workers, including legislation to ban the use of zero-hours contracts.
UNIONS AS EMPLOYERS
Demonstrating our capacity to lead by example, putting racial justice front and centre of our work as employers. We will be supporting unions to build inclusive and safe working environments for staff. Every one of our affiliates has its own unique challenges when striving for racial justice. But while our organising, bargaining and internal priorities may differ union by union and sector by sector, we are united by a common goal to deliver equality for all working people. For our unions to thrive, recruiting
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Black members and addressing workplace racism must be at the heart of our work. This will grow our movement, make it more diverse, and show we are truly representative of the working class of modern-day Britain. Whatever our background, race or religion, everyone deserves a decent job and respect at work. Racists try to divide working-class people and that makes us all weaker. But when Black and white workers join together through our unions, we are unstoppable. Unity really is strength. Kudsia Batool is the TUC’s Head of Equalities and Strategy
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