Stephen Lawrence Task Group
   tackling institutional racism in the workplace

Respect at Work Conference, 
Easton, Bristol, February 2000

TUC Stephen Lawrence Task Group

Rudi Springer, the Chair of South West TUC Race Equality Committee explained that the TUC had established the TUC Stephen Lawrence Task Group chaired by John Monks. This Group was looking into all aspects of union work in tackling racism at work. The TUC Black Workers’ Conference had called for ‘main streaming’ race equality issues and the Task Group will be presenting a full report to the TUC Conference in the Autumn.

Racism in the workplace is best tackled through joint employer/union action, which reflects the priority the TUC has given to emphasising a partnership approach. Rudi explained that the Task Group is examining a number of possibilities including:

•           New guidelines for union negotiators and representatives on tackling institutionalised racism in the workplace.
  

•            New trade union education provision, including a modular course to develop expertise among trade unionists, employers and employment advisors
  

•           Showcase union and TUC initiatives and agreements, highlighting good practice.

•           Develop a network of specialist employment advisors and consultants who have demonstrated their understanding on these issues.
  

•           New ways to support unions handle discrimination cases at Employment Tribunals
  

•            Encourage unions and the TUC to employ more black and ethnic minority employees and to fill key posts within unions.

Gary Younge is a Guardian columnist and feature writer as well as an acclaimed author. His book No Place Like Home describes his experiences in following in the footsteps of the American civil rights campaigners, the Freedom Riders, who rode in white reserved seats on buses through the southern states. It is as much about life in Britain as it is about America.

As a young trade unionist, Gary spoke to the Conference provoking new ideas as to how unions should see their role in the workplace and community. He spoke of an event at The Guardian when an Asian member took a complaint to his NUJ Chapel over racist remarks in a local pub. After initial reluctance, the chapel leadership was transformed and the issue taken up. More people have joined the union as a consequence. Gary said that there was no such thing as a minority issue - “an injury to one is an injury to all”. He called for a new, creative approach to trade unionism. It is fertile ground for unions. “We are colouring up trade unions”, he declared. Martin Luther King was not killed fighting on race issues Ð he died after defending rubbish workers who were marching for the right to organise. “We lift as we rise”. Gary exclaimed.

Gary took questions from the Conference including those on the definition of ‘black’, racism within unions, black organisation within unions, The Guardian’s equalities policies and the opportunities for black youngsters since the McPherson Report. He explained that as a new reporter, one of three black people on The Guardian, he was often described as the stocky guy with the earring. “Black is quite a good description too!” he said.