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Trade Unions, voluntary sector bodies and some academics believe that government's spending cuts will not affect all people equally. We know for example that some groups of people particularly women and black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be employed in the public sector. This means that cuts in public services are likely to have a disproportionate impact on these groups.

The TUC is working with the Runnymede Trust and UNISON, UNITE, PCS and the NASUWT to conduct a survey to monitor how the cuts are impacting on the levels of employment of different equality groups. The survey is designed to collect information on the makeup of the workforce at Dec 2010 and then to compare it with the makeup of the workforce at April 2012. The survey is available online http://rminsight.co.uk/surveys/runnymede/ along with online guidance about how to obtain the information from your employer and fill in the questionnaire.

Under current equality legislation public sector employers must take into account the likely impact that any decisions they make will have upon the workforce, particular those groups that we know suffer from discrimination. This survey will help provide trade unions with hard evidence on how the cuts are impacting on the employment of disadvantaged groups.

If you are a union steward and interested in completing the survey for your workplace or employer please contact the TUC Race Equality officer Wilf Sullivan at wsullivan@tuc.org.uk.

Briefing document (300 words) issued 31 May 2012