Newsletter March 2000

‘Monitoring to Target’ Conference

Some 250 delegates attended the first major event organised by the Task Group. The conference aimed to encourage unions to negotiate and adopt effective monitoring schemes. These schemes could in turn be used to target the recruitment, retention and promotion of black workers.

This approach was revealed through best practice case studies in the both the public and private sectors, that were presented to the conference participants. The event brought together a high powered group of speakers including: Haringey’s Chief Executive, Gurbux Singh; Home Office Minister, Paul Boateng; Head of the Met’s positive Action Task Group Janet Williams; the Campaigns Director of Race for Opportunity, Andrea Callender; Controller of Development and Training of the BBC, Bob Nelson; and Senior Media officer of the CRE, Chris Myant.

 Consultation meeting

Early in the new year a consultation meeting, attended by 70 delegates, discussed the TUC’s action plan on institutional racism. The meeting agreed that a key issue to tackle was the extent to which racist workplace banter and comments are still commonplace.

The gathering included Task Group members, equality officers and researchers.

CWU Deputy General Secretary, Tony Young discussed the difficulties of changing union cultures and practices. Community Organiser of KFAT, Chanda Parmar spoke about servicing new black recruits. PCS National Equality officer Roger McKenzie highlighted the partnership approach in the Civil Service. And Paul Ahmed from the FBU spoke graphically his experience of working in a culture of racism in the Fire Service.

A launch reception was attended by 250 people in January, including General Secretaries, negotiators, equality officers, representatives from the CBI, members of black community organisations, campaigning groups, research bodies and Task Group members of the Committee.

John Monks, TUC General Secretary welcomed the guests. He was followed by Neville Lawrence, Low Pay Unit Director Bharti Patel, and the Guardian’s social affairs journalist Gary Younge. Flautist Keith Waithe provided music and catering was supplied by a firm of black caterers.

The reception established a positive tone for the TUC’s work, which encouraged some affiliates to begin their own work on institutional racism.

Three unions, NATFHE, the T&G and PCS described the initiatives they have taken to deal with institutional racism at a briefing attended by 55 delegates. Detailed presentations were given by Paul Mackney, Bob Purkiss and Roger McKenzie.

• An educational plan.
• A survey of collective agreements that address institutional racism by the Labour Research Department, which will be showcased at Congress 2000.
• A campaign exposing the damaging effects of racist language and "canteen culture".
• TUC Black Workers’ Conference 14-16 April, Southport: New Agenda – Driving Change.
• New initiatives to improve how union reps and officers deal with race discrimination cases.