BME UNISON

ANNUAL REPORT

2011/2012

What has happened over the year?

The year started off with BME members supporting public sector cuts march in

London on 26 March. Members left from City Hall with other branch officials to

Hyde Park where they heard speeches from Ed Milliband and a number of other

speakers.

The chair and co-chair have continued to respond to members’ issues and

interests, supporting cases and offering support and advice to members.

There have been 3 meetings held during the year. It was decided that as a further

way of connecting with staff and communicating issues internally and externally,

interactive newsletters would be produced. There have been 7 newsletters

published to date which run every 2-3 months, featuring items on GLA news, staff

development and training, events, campaign information and a culture diary.

Further editions will be published with focus on more staff features such as

interviews, forums and surveys, as well as staff contribution to the newsletter.

The Group also organised an Olympic site visit in May with members having a tour

around the site, which was near completion. Other social events have included an

interactive pub quiz during the Christmas period with members of LFEPA’S BME

Unison group invited.

The steering group set up in 2010 has yet to recruit further members to look at

the group’s strategy going forward but this will be an on-going mission for

recruitment. Future plans for the Group will include lunchtime talks and

presentations on a number of issues for BME staff as well as further social events

and support for campaigns

There is now a new chair and the new position of the vice chair however the

Group will continue to support and represent its members as well as working

towards its plans to keep the Group strong and active.

The Black Members Group steering group and its role

The Steering Group has undergone some changes with a newly elected Chair of

BME Unison, Lorraine Eyers and Pat Ali in her newly revised role of Vice Chair. We

have sadly lost the Chair of our Steering Group, Robert Charlemagne who has

been an incredible support for the Group and will be greatly missed. We are now

actively looking to recruit to this position and expand the various roles within the

Steering Group. The aim is to take on specific areas of work within each section

such as Training and Development, Social Affairs, Advice and Casework

Representation and External relations. This is still very much work in progress, but

the group is still looking for active members to take up some of these roles, and

assist in the recruitment drive for more members from around the authority.

• Mission Statement – Whom do we represent?

• Unison Black Members Group is a self-organised group for all members

who identify as being Black, Asian or a person of colour.

• It is a safe and supporting environment to meet, socialise, share

experiences and strengths and discuss key issues that impact on our

working lives.

• We will promote awareness of Race Equality and challenge Race

Discrimination.

• We will work with other GLA self – organised groups, where appropriate, to

contribute to the formulation of The Greater London Authority’s policies

and procedures.

• We will work to strategically position the Group within core GLA activities

and operations as a proactive and credible ‘internal stakeholder’ this will

include participating in consultation papers, equalities and work-relating

issues; as well as ensuring Group representation on key forums

• We will establish regular dialogue with region, Trade union organisations

and, Local authority Unisons and work towards building and developing

positive and mutually beneficial relationships with other BME staff

networks and groups.

• We will represent, advise and support our members, providing confidential

advice, casework and representation services to members;

• We will increase membership through recruitment drives, co-ordinating

member communication, working with other task force to encourage

member participation

• We will Organise seminars, debates, presentations and attend all

conferences pertaining to the work of the group.

Newsletter Publication: 2011-2012

March-April

May-June

July-August

September-October

November-December

2012

January-February

March-April

May-June

September-October

GLA Unison Black

Members Group

Events

BME Unison AGM-23

February 12:30-130

Conf 9

Unison AGM 29

March 12:00-2:00

LLR

Croyde Bay

Weekender Spring

2012- Date TBC

Issue 4

Dear Member

The Group would like to wish all its members all

the best for the New Year. Last year proved to

be very eventful with many members. This included, supporting a national strike on

pensions; marching to stop public sector cuts

and winning internal pay disputes. This year

promises to be even more eventful with a host

of activities such as the upcoming Mayoral elections, the Queens Jubilee and the Olympic

and Paralympic Games, which will keep staff at

the GLA very busy! We would like to assure all members that Unison will still be active fighting

on behalf of all its members in 2012.

Finally we would like to thank all those who

attended the BME Unison Social Evening on 21 December. Congratulations to the winning team

‘The Supremes’ who really did reign supreme!

It was a fantastic evening of fun, music and dancing, and we hope to hold more events like

this in the future.

Further BME meetings will be held during the

coming year. So please show your support and attend. Your continuing support will help keep

the Group strong and active. There are still a

number of roles within our Steering Group, if you are interested please contact us for further

information.

Pat Ali Chair

Lorraine Eyers Co-Chair

GLA News

6 months to go –Lounge Bar 3rd February

www.croydeunison.co.uk/index.html

Croyde Bay, North Devon 15%

discount for Unison members. Click on links for further information

Image source:www.unisonbridgend.org

Conference Report

Brighton

3-5 February 2012

Conference Report

A delegation from the group attended this year’s conference held in Brighton.

Conference began by looking at developments from last year in particular issues

surrounding public sector cuts, the pension crisis and a review of self-organisation

in Unison. This was further highlighted by a speaker working for the NHS

explaining the importance that when organising changes at regional levels it can

have a global impact. An example of this was given in Botswana where members

organised and became proactive in fighting for their rights to better wages,

conditions and pensions. They were on strike for two months, unfortunately

unlike many other countries the union in Botswana did not have a strike fund.

With self-organisation, determination and solidarity the union held strong and this

resulted in a win for the members.

Stop and Search

Stop and search was raised as a great concern that reduction of the Stop and

Search categories will have an impact on BME people, as there will no longer be

the appropriate monitoring tool of who this is effecting. Conference called on this

to be stopped, as this would obviously limit any quantitative evidence which is

seen as of vital importance to the BME community.

Young, Gifted, black and unemployed

Unemployment figures are currently at 2.86 million and are expected to rise to 3

million this year, with 1 million young people unemployed and rising. Conference

talked about current government legislation devastating *young black people in

jobs, education, public services, and student welfare funding. Members were

urged to encourage young people to join trade unions as decisions made by

government will affect their futures the most.

A young member from the York and Humberside branch and a first time speaker

at conference, stressed the need for the government to create jobs and social

housing, the speaker asked conference delegates to encourage young members to

come to future conferences to discuss issues affecting them. He talked about the

deepening public sector cuts having a profound effect on community projects

that support young black people.

He also spoke of a need for community organisations to support these projects

and a greater need for sustainable funding.

*IPPR 50% of young black people will be unemployed next 10-15 years (blackbritain.co.uk)

Martin Luther king quote from youth delegate from School of oriental and African

Studies (SOAS) about the riots and cuts.

“When you cut the facilities, slash jobs, abuse power, discriminate, drive

people deeper into poverty and shoot people dead whilst refusing to

provide answers or justice the people will rise up and express their anger

and frustration if you refuse to hear their cries. A riot is the language of

the unheard” — Martin Luther King.

Roger McKenzie: Assistant General Secretary

Roger McKenzie spoke at conference for the first time in 1992 and had moved a

motion then to continue the fight against racism. For this conference he once

again repeated his commitment to fight racism and also raised the issue of recent

racist incidents in football and the long awaited verdicts of two men charged with

the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Roger McKenzie discussed the importance of

legacy and mobilisation, and felt that there was a sad decline of activism in the

black community, but then spoke of how this was once again revitalised again in

light of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. It was this tragic killing that lead

to communities to campaign against racial injustice and look at tackling

institutional racism. Unison played a key role in the Stephen Lawrence campaign

and passed a motion to host an event in remembrance of Stephen Lawrence.

Cancer and the Black community

A speaker on sickle cell mentioned the current cancer rates and how this impacts

on BME communities. In recent surveys it has been found that although breast

cancer affects all women, breast cancer detection rates are higher in white women

than black and Asian women. Research has also shown that black and Asian men

are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men and more

likely to develop it at an early age. This could be down to a number of factors

such as screening, diagnostic test differences and even health inequality factors.

UK cancer registers have now started to collect ethnicity data however conference

called on there be to greater awareness and early detection information on more

black led websites.

Policing Disadvantaged Communities

In light of last year’s riots, concerns were raised by delegates on the danger of

dismantling of community relations. The Independent Advisory Group reports that

cuts to policing will have a detrimental effect on help to support and protect

communities, and the recruitment of BME PCSO’s in the community will

ultimately suffer as a result.

Delegate

Reports

Lorraine Eyers, Delegate

Black activism workshop: Roger McKenzie, Speaker

I attended the workshop on Black activism. Roger McKenzie spoke about

obstacles to organisations sometimes of peoples own branches, and at looking to

building on the future by looking at the past as a way to recruit members through

an ‘Each one reach one’ campaign. Roger also spoke about the need for

organisations to connect with grassroots organisations and of understanding

people’s fears of getting involved in unions but that there was also a need for

greater solidarity and protection. He suggested that a surge in recruitment in

black members joining unison especially with public sector cuts is essential, as it

enables opportunities and helps build community inclusion.

Young, Gifted, Black and Unemployed workshop: Simon Wooley & Kanja Sesay

I also attended the Young, gifted, black and unemployed seminar with Simon

Wooley director of Operation Black Vote, and Kanja Sesay from the National

Union of Black Students.

Kanja spoke about the media bias of young black people in society today despite

the fact that many are contributing positively to society. He pointed out that

positive contributions of young black people is barely shown in the media, but

that there are more portrayals of stereotypical black youth in hoodies and an

abundance of negative news stories.

He mentioned the fact that 16 per cent of black graduates are more likely to face

unemployment than their white counterparts, and face greater racism in colleges

and universities where there is a dropout rate of 15-20 per cent of black students

compared to 3 per cent of whites. The reporting of Muslims and the rise of

Islamaphobia in the media has been a very divisive issue. This negative reporting

in the press is seen as encouraging groups such as the British National Party and

the English Defence League to become more prominent in mainstream politics.

Kanja also revealed recent moves against foreign students, and government

policies detrimental impact on this group of people with the rise in more BME

students wanting to go into further education. He spoke of the need for there to

be greater investment in young people, jobs and housing. UCAS figures show

mature students at a 3 per cent dropout rate in numbers, this is affecting many

BME students as further cuts in public sector dig deep. This in turn is also having

a knock on effect in the public sector where more BME people are more likely to

be made redundant. These are jobs where many BME people are located and

many have been in these roles for many years, the threat to pensions is also a

cause of great concern for BME workers.

A one-minute silence was held for people who lost their lives to racist violence,

Stephen Lawrence, Anthony Nolan and Zahid Mubarak.

Simon Wooley, Speaker

Simon Wooley’s speech highlighted that it was necessary to hand over activism to

the younger generation. Student protest is seen as being the emergence of this

new generation of activists very similar to the activism in the sixties and seventies,

and spoke of the handing over of the baton of fairness and social justice,

therefore succession planning is now needed.

Simon also continued Kanja’s comments on racism in the media and the negativity

the black community suffers at the hands of negative reporting. He spoke about

the justice for Stephen Lawrence on one news item which was then overshadowed

by the media backlash to Diane abbot’s comments, and during the riots how the

media was let loose on the black community. A Q&A session was held after both

speakers and a number of delegates highlighted some of their stories.

A Bedfordshire student spoke of work being done at her campus with a program

to motivate young black students into become active in unions.

A delegate also spoke about the exclusion of black students and institutional

racism in schools and pupil referral services. She spoke about her frustration of

seeing many black pupils unfairly excluded but felt that she could not speak out

about the injustices as she was only BME person in a team of all white managers

and officials and admitted to fearing for her job if she was to speak out.

Another delegate also raised concerns about racism in financial institutions when

trying to get loans and mortgages and the impact on black families.

The delegate from SOAS gave an extremely passionate statement that the

government had through all their policies and cuts and broken promised,

‘declared war on young people’

At the end of the seminar both Simon Wooley and Kanja Sesay both highlighted

the importance of the power of organising effectively and being strong and

united, and asked the audience to keep an eye on the Black Power list for future

BME role models.

Marilyn Antrobus, Delegate

Brighton was my third consecutive Conference, and I am becoming more

enthusiastic, and this year it was no exception.

The key themes for this year’s conference continued on from last year…more job

losses through restructuring and redundancies. But what was useful to note there

was a lot of discussion on the unemployment of young black people, being at the

highest level ever. Figures suggested that 48 per cent young black people were

unemployed compared to 20 per cent white young people. Not only is this a

concern, but also worrying as a mother of two teenage children who are still in full

time education.

Whilst the conference was well represented, it was the usual cohort of union

members, who you meet and speak, or raise a motion speak to every year. What

as interesting to note that there was a distinct lack of young black members, one

which one of the speakers raised as an issue. With the increase in tuition fees and

removal of certain benefits, it has made it even more difficult for a young black

people to progress. With this being an urgent issue, as members, we were urged

to encourage to our young colleagues to join the union to have a voice, to take

on the issues that are they are facing. Also to:

Organise events to reach out to young black people within our

communities;

Encourage black members to publicise events and resources to young black

people in their communities;

Produce resources to support the planned work with young black people

The other issue high on the agenda, was job cuts in a number of public sector

organisations, where black workers are the first to go, or faced a reduction in pay

as a result. It was humbling to see a speaker who the year previously had a well-

paid job, spoke about her experience of losing her job earlier this year. It made

you realise that you are still fortunate to have a job. but at the same time it made

you think that this could be you.

I also attended a workshop to highlight the potential changes being introduced to

the Local Government pension scheme by 2014. The overall effect is that it may

see further increases in pension contributions, but nevertheless the final salary

scheme will be in place up to 2014. This will be replaced by Career Average

Revaluated Earnings (CARE) from April 2015. The new scheme has its advantages

and disadvantages but mainly it is seen to benefit those who remain virtually in

the same grade for the duration of the new CARE scheme. The new scheme is

likely to be finalised by the end of 2012.

However, the highlight for me was the speech given by Neville Lawrence speaking

about the outcome of the justice that had been finally been realised for him and

his family. It was moving and heartfelt, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the

house - I was moved!

Robert Mosiah Charlemagne, delegate

This year I attended conference with Marilyn Antrobus and Lorraine Eyers.

Lorraine had done some sterling work organising things to make our attendance

happen. Many thanks.

On Friday we attended our Regional Meeting. Mandy Richards is standing as the

London Assembly Member for Havering & Redbridge, which is currently held by

Roger Evans. Mandy called for support from BME colleagues to support her

campaign.

The need to get up to date with social media was highlighted as necessary for

effective communication.

The Annual Report was covered as the first item on Saturday. Cuts in the public

services expect to see 95 per cent of BME staff lost in Lambeth by 2015. National

Black Members Conference will campaign to support Black members and protect

jobs.

Saturday’s conference agenda was started by a passionate speech by a colleague

for delegates to be active participants in the debates and not simply re-active.

The result was more first time speakers as well as the usual. There is rarely

conflicting opinions at the BME conference and this was no different. BME issues

remain the same over the years and sadly still need challenging.

We won’t quit before equality is achieved in practice.

I spoke at length to Paul Mortimer (Former Pro Footballer) he had a powerful and

compelling stance on Racism in Football as part of Show Racism the Red Card. He

is doing a great job carrying the message to schools and workplaces around the

country.

I later attended the Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) fringe meeting. The

organisation coincidentally held an event at City Hall the following week hosted

by Murad Qureshi. The irony is I was not allowed to wear the badge in City Hall

despite other politicised campaigns being visibly supported and even encouraged

to wear on staff uniforms.

I then attended the Challenging Racism in the Workplace meeting. Narmada

Thiranagama was the main speaker. She is Unison’s National Race Equality

Officer.

Unison will monitor and gather information on promotion and disciplinary figures

of BME staff, using the Freedom of Information act starting in London. From the

information collated Unison will formulate a strategy.

Every branch should have a current plan for progress on the table with the

employer. BME groups should challenge branch. Narmada is available to be

invited to BME self-organised groups.

I did not attend the social that evening, choosing instead to work on my speech

for Sunday morning.

I have attended conference 6 times (I think) and I have not heard a GLA colleague

speak. I was moved to share my own experience on the motion Cancer and the

Black Community. It was cathartic and I hope useful to BME’s especially males. I

was very nervous but the conference is supportive and many people approached

me after.

The conference was privileged to hear Neville Lawrence, father of Stephen

Lawrence address conference. He thanked Unison Black Members for the help

and support he and his family had received right from the start and asked for our

continued support.

I was deeply moved like all my delegate colleagues. Many speakers who followed

paid their respects on behalf of us all.

On 23rd April (St. Georges Day) there will be a peace rally at the new Union

Centre. I have never attended this kind of thing or marched but I intend to be

there with my son. Because I can.

We cannot give up the fight.

Final Day of Conference

Benson Asawe, a member of the Regional Committee spoke about further public

sector cuts and unison supporting sister unions.

Further motions on cancer were carried through for the morning. Our very own

delegate Robert Charlemagne gave delegates an impassioned plea to be aware of

prostate cancer effecting BME men who are three times more likely to develop

prostate cancer than white men, and not to be afraid of the having the necessary

checks that could save your life.

Final Speaker: Neville Lawrence

Neville Lawrence came to the podium to talk of the recent verdict of the

murderers of his son and the 19-year fight for justice, which started back on 2nd

April 1993. He began by thanking Unison and the community as a whole who had

been a big part of supporting the Stephen Lawrence campaign. Neville Lawrence

spoke of the struggle and filled with emotion he explained to conference that he

thought we were in a country that had the best police force in the world and felt

let down and saddened by what transpired with some police officers over

Stephen’s murder. He made a plea for conference delegates to keep up the fight

to get the remaining killers of his son and pass the baton to the next generation

of activists as he felt that the next round of justice for Stephen would not be in

his lifetime

Neville Lawrence commended the officers who fought Stephen’s case for justice,

and never gave up. He also made the point, “united we stand divided we fall” and

thanked Conference for their support.

Pat May the Chair also spoke to conference about Stephens’s racist murder that

seemed to affect everyone. She has pledged that Unison will continue to fight for

victims of racist violence.

Pat May thanked Neville for his address to conference.

Margaret Greer Chair of the Greater London Region Black Members Committee

supported the motion for a Stephen Lawrence vigil to be held.