As part of ongoing work to tackle racial discrimination and inequality, Community has become the first trade union to sign up to Business In The Community’s Race at Work Charter. The Charter is a framework for employers which includes practical steps to be proactive in ensuring that they are tackling barriers that ethnic minority people face in the workplace. The Charter, which launched in 2018 already has hundreds of signatories.
The key calls to action of the Charter are; appoint an Executive Sponsor for race, capture data and publicise progress, commit at Board level to zero tolerance of harassment and bullying, make clear that supporting equality in the workplace is the responsibility of all leaders and managers and take action that supports ethnic minority career progression.
Community has long been engaging with employers to improve their working practices and policies when it comes to race. Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis Community have worked with employers to ensure that risks to black and ethnic minority employees are mitigated through individual risk assessments.
Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community, said:
“At Community we strive to not only live up to the aspirations laid out in this Charter but we see it as our role to encourage the employers we work with to improve too. Organisations know that they need to be better, and we can help by offering practical guidance for employers.”
“While we are working with employers to tackle the barriers that exist in their workplaces for black and ethnic minority workers, it’s only right that we reflect on our own organisation and work to lead the way.”
Read our blog from Community NEC member Chris Knight about addressing racial discrimination and inequality here.
You can see a message to members on Black Lives Matter from General Secretary, Roy Rickhuss here.
Find out more about BITC’s Race at Work Charter here.
If you are a member of Community and need help or advice, please contact us at servicecentre@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.
To join Community, visit here.
© Community Trade Union 2024