Public and Commercial Services Union

Reps and negotiators need to ensure that members have a good understanding of the legislation in terms of its aims and objectives.

Race equality is not just an issue for black members, the impact of this legislation goes beyond black members/employees because of the responsibility the legislation places on public authority employees in terms of service delivery and employment relations.

Training

Public authorities are required to train staff in connection with the general duty to promote race equality and the specific duties of the act.

In short, anyone who is in contact with members of the public, involved in drawing up policies to do with delivering public services or employment functions should be trained on how to deliver the general duty and specific duties – as well as recognising their own personal obligations under the act.

Essentially, everyone should be trained as there is a general requirement that public authority staff work in a non discriminatory way.

Without proper training imparting a good understanding of the aims and objectives of the legislation, there is a danger that there will be resistance from staff who will even resist supplying monitoring information.

Branches should ensure that:

• Race Equality Schemes are discussed at branch meetings
• Black staff are consulted

Recruitment of black members

The legislation if utilised properly can be used as a tool to recruit black members because even though issues of ‘race’ go beyond black members, it is because black staff and service users are more prone to be the victims of racial discrimination (a finding of the Stephen Lawrence enquiry) that it is essential that they are involved in any consultation process that aims to bring about positive changes in the workplace.

It is essential that black workers are consulted to ensure that their voices are heard and they are not marginalized.

Branches should make use of their black members focus groups and assist setting up black groups where there are black members.

Branches can contact the Equality, Health and Safety Department or Regional Officers for advice and assistance for setting up black groups. In the absence of black members, ensure that the union is involved.