Powerful anti-racism debate opens UNISON health conference

UNISON’s national health conference opened in Bournemouth today (Monday) with a passionate debate on the continuing fight against racism in the NHS. The motion ‘Challenging racism in the NHS’, noted that data from the NHS Workforce Race Equalities Standard (WRES) continues to show that higher levels of Black workers are experiencing harassment, bullying and abuse from staff and patients, than their white colleagues. Black workers also have less access to training and career opportunities than white workers, and are more likely to be disciplined. As one delegate told the conference: “Racism is rife in the NHS.” Marking the fact that 2023 is UNISON’s Year of the Black Worker, the delegates discussed the ways in which they can tackle such institutional racism. Proposing the motion, Peter Oates of Eastern region (pictured below) said: “Challenging racism is front and centre of all our work as activists. We see racism happening in all large employers, and it will continue where it’s not challenged. So we have to keep speaking up. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to challenge racism, it’s not only on the shoulders of our Black colleagues and Black activists, who live the experience.” Mr Oates spoke of his region’s anti-racism charter, which has been signed by employers across the region and which, combined with WRES data, empowers activists in their anti-racist work. Adekunle Akinole from Somerset Health (main picture) also spoke of the importanc...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News 2023 National Health Conference NHS one team Stand up to racism Source Type: news