Black Activist Development Programme - Online Taster Session (2023)

The online taster session, chaired by the TUC Regional Black Members Network Convener, Dominic Bascombe, included four main panel speakers:

Becky Sixsmith-Hughes, TUC Building BME Networks Project Officer, who spoke about becoming the first black workplace rep in her union branch when she worked at British Airways and how she became a TUC project officer. Becky talked about her involvement in setting-up the TUC's Black Activist Development Programme (BADP) and the need to diversify our movement.

Florence Matimba, Black Member Officer, Dorset Branch - UNISON, spoke about her experience on the BADP course organised in the TUC South West region and how it helped her better understand political power structures, build a network of shared experience with other reps and develop her leadership skills. 

Gemma Williamson, workplace rep and Branch President, K40 Branch - GMB, spoke about becoming the first female and black president of the GMB Airedale K40 Branch and the only black rep at her workplace. She talked about the workplace campaign she helped organise to win pay parity for outsourced workers at Airedale Hospital and how becoming a workplace rep has empowered her and helped her to empower others. 

Taj Salam, Branch Secretary, NE302/7 Branch - Unite the Union, told us how he had been a trade unionist for 36 years and how when he first started driving buses there was visible discrimination and racism in the workplace. He talked about how at the time and since he was elected as a shop steward he has worked to promote greater equality in the movement and in workplace policies. 

Overall, the evening was an incredibly inspiring event, emphasising the need to diversify our movement and support black members across our movement take on positions of leadership in our movement. 

The TUC Y&H BADP will be launched in late September. If you are interested in the programme you can register here.