UNISON the public service union - Equality


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			Equality

	Equality Equality Scheme Organising for equality Equality duties Latest news Equality documents Related links Groups and forums Black members Disabled members LGBT members Retired members Women members Young members Organising for equality: UNISON guidelines on self organisation		Organising for equality UNISON is committed to achieving equality for all. One of the ways we promote equality is through self-organisation. Self-organisation brings together members from certain under represented groups - women members, black members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. Self-organisation helps the union identify and challenge discrimination and build equality. It can be a way for members to get involved in the union, developing skills, expertise and confidence. Why does UNISON promote self-organisation? Trade unionism is all about organising workers around a common experience. We organise members in a number of different ways, such as by employer, by occupational group (home care workers, police staff, teaching assistants and so on) and by geography. Self-organisation is members organising around their experience of prejudice and discrimination. Because prejudice and discrimination are deep-rooted in our society, women members, black members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members have traditionally been less visible in trade unions and under-represented in democratic structures. Self-organisation offers a way to address this. It is sometimes thought that because the members of self-organised groups meet separately, self-organisation is separatism. It is not. UNISON's self-organised groups are a well-established part of our organisation. They are actively involved in all the union's mainstream work. They have a valuable role in ensuring that the union identifies and takes up equality issues, actively challenges discrimination and that our democratic structures reflect the whole membership. Self-organisation strengthens UNISON. Self-organised groups may be the first point of contact with the union for members and potential members. Many members who become involved via a self-organised group go on to hold senior positions at branch, regional and national level. Self-organisation can and should be a vibrant and dynamic part of UNISON: welcoming new activists, encouraging participation and helping members take on other roles in the union. Download 'Organising for equality: UNISON guidelines on self organisation (PDF file)		CONTACT US • For urgent help and advice at work to go Help at Work. • Membership Participation Unit (Equality) UNISON 1 Mabledon Place London WC1H 9AJ Email: equality@unison.co.uk Latest Equality document Challenging racism - poster Workplace poster for Challenging Racism at Work. Challenging racism - poster Challenging racism - leaflet Leaflet on UNISON's Challenging Racism in the Workplace course. Challenging racism - leaflet UNISON guide to branches on the Race Relations Amendment Act Guide sets out main provisions of RRAA (2000) and how branches can involve employees in discussions on employment duties under the act. UNISON guide to branches on the Race Relations Amendment Act Branch development toolkit - Organising around race equality Enables the branch to map involvement from black and minority ethnic communities in the workplace and the branch. To plan organising activity to promote race equality and to encourage involvement in UNISON of black and minority ethnic workers. Branch development toolkit - Organising around race equality All documents > Success stories Some UNISON equality success stories Email us your views and comments

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