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UNISON SE Regional Black Members Committee Newsletter

Issue 1. July 2016

VISION

The South East Region Black Members Committee (RBMC) works to eliminate discrimination and promote equality in UNISON, the wider

trade union movement and in society

UNISON Definition of Black

Black members: in UNISON 'Black' is used to indicate people with a shared history. Black with a capital 'B' is used in its broad political and

inclusive sense to describe people in Britain that have suffered colonialism and enslavement in the past and continue to experience

racism and diminished opportunities in today's society

(Please see page 13 for the full definition)

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Inside this edition ....

SE Regional Black Member Committee

Little Known Fact

Highlighting Gloria Mills Report

Regional Black Members Committee Meetings

Black History Month Poster

Black History Month Quiz

Rosita Ellis, Regional Black Members Chair Report

Black Communities and Mental Health Report by Jed Murray, National Black Members Committee Member

Stand up to Racism Report by Sandra Charles, Regional Black Members Committee Member

UNISON Nelson Mandela Award 2017

UNISON International Seminar report by Carol Valentine

UNISON Full definition of Black

National Black Members Conference 2017

Regional Black Members Committee Contact & Social Media Information

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Sam Wines

Regional Black Members Committee

s.wines@UNISON.co.uk

Rosita Ellis

Regional Black Members Committee

Chair, NBMC, Regional Council/ Committee,

Rosita.Ellis@oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk

Danielle Bruce

Regional Black Members Committee Administrator

d.bruce@UNISON.co.uk

Judy Richards

Regional Black Members Committee

Regional Council/ Committee, P&C, Community

Blackwomensgroupbh@tiscali.co.uk

Jed Murray

Regional Black Members Committee

SERTUC, NBMC

adsc-convenor@eastsussexareabranch-UNISON.co.uk

Tania McGee

Regional Black Members Committee

NBMC, SERTUC

tania.mcgee@gravesham.gov.uk

Vanessa Henry- Steinfort

Regional Black Members Committee

Local Government, Labour Link

vanessa.henrysteinfort@surreycc.gov.uk

Josephine Biss

Regional Black Members Committee

ETC

bissj@rocketmail.com

Colleen Mitchell

Regional Black Members Committee

Finance

colleen.mitchell@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Nigel Carter

Regional Black Members Committee

TUC Congress

Nigel.Carter@oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk

Sandra Charles

Regional Black Members Committee

Womens Committee

Sandra.Charles@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

SE REGIONAL BLACK MEMBERS COMMITTEE

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LITTLE KNOWN FACT ...

Frederick Douglass and his stance against the practice of slavery has been documented and discussed at length over the years. A prolific orator and activist, the former slave and anti-slavery movement leader was sought after to speak at a variety of events during his career.

One such speech, “The Meaning of the Fourth Of July for the Negro,” has been hailed as his most moving work. Douglass delivered the speech on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, N.Y. at the Corinthian Hall, which was an event, held by the Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Douglass was invited to champion the virtues of America’s independence and how it related to the supposed good fortunes of Black Americans. While Douglass did open his speech seemingly in support of the founding fathers, he shifted the tone radically while expressing his strong anti-slavery views.

From the speech:

“What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanks-giving's, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy – a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.”

Historians have noted the importance of the speech and while the abolitionist movement supported Douglass and his aims, they were not a movement known for politically-charged statements. The lengthy speech was made into a booklet, and has become a required read in many literature classes in the USA.

In recent times, popular figures have done readings of the speech. James Earl Jones, Danny

Glover, Morgan Freeman and countless stage actors have done renditions.

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Since 1978 Mills has been a driving force in unions, campaigning for equality and justice for most of her career. Her endeavours were recognised when the general council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) elected her to become the first Black woman to lead the TUC, one of the biggest national workers unions in the country repre-senting the rights of workers.

Her year long term saw her become a champion for diversity issues and equal opportunities in the work place regardless of race, gender, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation. She represented the TUC at the high-est level in government meetings and internationally. As with all congress presidents, at the end of her term she became the congress’s vice president from 2006 to 2007.

In addition to much of the above she has been on the board of the TUC General Council since 1994, has represented UNISON on the executive committee since 2000; is chair of the TUC’s Race Relations Committee and is also a member of the editorial advisory board of Equal Opportunities Review.

Mills was instrumental in lobbying for an amendment to the European Union’s (EU) 1957 Amsterdam Treaty of Rome. The revisions to the treaty ensured that there were legal provisions to protect people on the grounds of race, disability, sexual orientation, age and religion, “to have legal redress if people are discriminated against in any EU country was very critical”.

Her beginnings in the trade unions began when she started working as an assistant for a legal publishing firm in the 1970s. She describes this time as a period where people were jumping at the chance to join trade unions. While at the firm she says she joined the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (NSOPA) as a regional organiser. She was then elected as a Mother of the Chapel for the union which entailed negotiating rights on behalf of workers.

She became a regional organiser for the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) in London in 1985 and later a senior regional officer where she was responsible for representing employees in the public and private sector, helping represent them on their behalf in tribunals and disciplinary’s.

Mills was born in Trinidad where she spent much of her formative years. She came to Britain in her late teens and says that although she was uprooted from one country to another she believes her strong educational foundations in the Caribbean helped her to settle in England.

Growing up her parents would tell her that she should always be resilient, resourceful but always have resolve. “Those are the three Rs my parents brought me up with because it’s determination that will help you to achieve, you can not afford to give up at the first hurdle,” she explains.

Mills, who has been a Labour Party member for over 25 years, believes that she has always been able to articulate her political views and sees herself as someone who has continually been politically active, whether it has been in trade unions or as an active citizen for social justice.

She was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 1999 for her work in the unions, and later honoured with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2005.

In 2002 she was selected as a trade union commissioner for the now defunct Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), a position she stayed in for over 4 years.

Mills says that through her work she aims to continue making equality a reality rather than a blank dream.

She believes that whatever you choose to do in life you need to make sure it has a positive wider impact for the majority of people you represent.

Speaking about what she wants to do in the future she comments: “I want to continue doing what I’m passionate about which is to fight for social progress, justice and equality. I also want to continue fighting in the trade union movement to ensure people get a living wage and people achieve equality and have opportunity to achieve their potential and ambition.

HIGHLIGHTING GLORIA MILLS

UNISON’s Gloria Mills was elected as president of the European Trade Union Confederation women’s committee in October 2015 to serve for the next four years.

The ETUC represents 60 million union members across the EU and its immediate neighbours.

Ms Mills is the first Black woman to hold the post and will focus on issues such as parental rights, equal pay and fighting against the impact of austerity on the public services women rely on.

Ms Mills is currently responsible for managing UNISON’s strategic equality work and is one of the union’s representatives on the TUC general council, and a member of the TUC executive.

Gloria Mills

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UNISON REGIONAL BLACK MEMBERS’ COMMITTEE (RBMC)

MEETINGS

Saturday 10th September 2016 UNISON Regional Office, Guildford

Saturday 19th November 2016 UNISON Centre, London

There is a Regional Black Members Open meeting held 10am-11am and a Regional Black

Members Committee meeting 11am-2pm

The Regional Black Members’ Committee meets expenses for lunch, travel (including car parking) and dependent care for attendance at UNISON regional activities and events

Crèche facilities are available for training weekends and can usually be provided for meetings if requested.

Venues are accessible for disabled members.

Gloria Mills report continued .....

Her beginnings in the trade unions began when she started working as an editorial assistant for a legal publishing firm in the 1970s. She describes this time as a period where people were jumping at the chance to join trade unions. While at the firm she says she joined the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (NSOPA) as a regional organiser. She was then elected as a Mother of the Chapel for the union which entailed negotiating rights on behalf of workers.

She became a regional organiser for the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) in London in 1985 and later a senior regional officer where she was responsible for representing employees in the public and private sector, helping represent them on their behalf in tribunals and disciplinary’s.

Mills was born in Trinidad where she spent much of her formative years. She came to Britain in her late teens and says that although she was uprooted from one country to another she believes her strong educational foundations in the Caribbean helped her to settle in England.

Growing up her parents would tell her that she should always be resilient, resourceful but always have resolve. “Those are the three Rs my parents brought me up with because it’s determination that will help you to achieve, you can not afford to give up at the first hurdle,” she explains.

Mills, who has been a Labour Party member for over 25 years, believes that she has always been able to articulate her political views and sees herself as someone who has continually been politically active, whether it has been in trade unions or as an active citizen for social justice.

She was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 1999 for her work in the unions, and later honoured with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2005.

In 2002 she was selected as a trade union commissioner for the now defunct Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), a position she stayed in for over 4 years.

Mills says that through her work she aims to continue making equality a reality rather than a blank dream.

She believes that whatever you choose to do in life you need to make sure it has a positive wider impact for the majority of people you represent.

Speaking about what she wants to do in the future she comments: “I want to continue doing what I’m passionate

about which is to fight for social progress, justice and equality. I also want to continue fighting in the trade union

movement to ensure people get a living wage and people achieve equality and have opportunity to achieve their

potential and ambition

Gloria Mills

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Guest speakers include:

PROFESSOR ELIZABETH ANIONWU (Vice Chair of the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal)

MARIKA SHERWOOD (Author/Historian)

RICHARD ‘BINGY’ BROWN (Author)

ZITA HOLBOURNE (Author/Activist)

UNISON South East Regional Black Members will have a variety of activities to showcase our diverse membership including guest speakers, quiz with prizes, publishers, stalls with books, art and other items. Food and beverages will be provided.

Please encourage other Black members to attend to

support this event as we hope to get your ideas on

what we do in 2017.

Please complete the attached

registration form by Thursday

29th September 2016 to Danielle

Bruce via email

d.bruce@unison.co.uk

All Hansib publications will be

discounted by 50% at the event

UNISON is proud to support Black History Month.

But our commitment to inclusion and equality lasts a lot longer than four weeks. It goes

deep into the heart of our union and helps to explain why we are the UK’s leading public

service union.

For more information or to become a member call 0800 171 2193 or visit joinunison.org

UNISON Black members making history every day

Thanks to LV Frizzell, Croyde Bay and Lighthouse Financial for the

raffle donations

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Please visit www.UNISONsoutheast.co.uk for the Quiz Answers under the Black Members page

Dear Member,

The South East Regional Black Members Committee will be holding an Event to celebrate Black History Month Event this year on Saturday 15th October 2016 11am- 3pm at UNISON Centre, Euston Road,

London, NW1 2AY.

Please see below a fun and short taster session that you can participate in at your next

Branch meeting. The instructions, questions and answers are below and it shouldn’t take more than 5

minutes. Please remind members that the quiz is for everyone and not just Black members.

Kind regards

SER Black History Month Working Committee

Quiz Instructions: Ask the question – the winner is the person closest to the answer. Please share the interesting fact after the answer has been revealed TOPIC: MUSIC Q1. How many records has Shirley Bassey sold in her lifetime?

Quiz Instructions: Read the question below and all the multiple choice responses TOPIC: SPORTS Q2. Who was Britain’s first black goal keeper? a) Walter Tull b) Clyde Best c) Arthur Wharton d) David James

Quiz Instructions: Please write the following two word jumble on a piece of paper ‘IEZDEZ CRLAAS’ and share the clue. Members need to guess the name

TOPIC: GUESS THE NAME

Q3. The Clue: A number one selling UK grime artist

Quiz Instructions: Please write the answer below

TOPIC: SOUTH EAST REGION BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT

Q4: What date is the South East Regional Black History Month Event 2016 and how do you register?

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REPORT FROM ROSITA ELLIS, UNISON SE REGIONAL BLACK

MEMBERS CHAIR

As a member of the RBMC I am taking the opportunity to highlight reasons why it would benefit both you as a Black member and the group as a whole to attend the meetings.

Meetings are presently held 4 times a year and last roughly between 3-4 hours, locations of the meetings vary and children are welcome as a crèche is provided for them.

To be Self-Organized Group (SOG) that is strong, united, recognized and heard within UNISON

Meet to develop and build friendships with members from other branches in the South East region

Have a ‘safe space’ to discuss issues effecting the Black community

Advice and support from more experienced Black members

To be Self-Organized Group (SOG) that is strong, united, recognized and heard within UNISON

Opportunities for Black members to become more active and involved in the running of the group by becoming an officer on the committee and/or being selected to represent the group on the various committees and groups within UNISON at the Annual General Meetings

Specialized training opportunities, networking days, events and encouraging and recruiting new members

At members request guest speakers are invited to the meetings and there is also an opportunity for any member to present a current topic or an issue affecting the Black community.

Please make every effort to attend and bring an existing or new Black member

Meet to develop and build friendships with members from other branches in the South East region.

Rosita Ellis RBMC Chair

Rosita Ellis

UNISON SE Regional Black

Members Committee Chair

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BLACK COMMUNITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH REPORT

People from African Diaspora, including those of white and Black mixed ethnicity, can face additional problems that may affect their mental health. Black communities in the UK are still more likely than others to experience problems such as bad housing, unemployment, stress and racism, all of which can make people ill. Worldwide, it seems that people who move from one country to another have a higher risk of mental illness. This is especially true for Black people who move to predominantly white countries, and the risk is even higher for their children. While mental illness is no more common in Africa or the Caribbean than it is in the UK as a whole, it is a bigger problem for African and African Caribbean communities living in the UK.

According to the Mental Health Foundation African Caribbean people are also more likely to enter mental health services via the courts or the police, rather than from primary care, which is the main route to treatment for most people. They are also more likely to be treated under a section of the Mental Health Act, are more likely to receive medication, rather than be offered talking treatments such as psychotherapy, and are over-represented in high and medium secure units and prisons. This may be because they are reluctant to engage with services, and so are much more ill when they do. It may also be that services use more coercive approaches to treatment.

There is currently no action plan specifically for Black and ethnic communities. The last Labour Government’s action plan on Black mental health ‘Delivering Race Equality’ ended in 2010 and has not been renewed or replaced, the remnants of this initiative have all but disappeared. Based on the recommendations of the David 'Rocky' Bennett Inquiry in 2004, with a clear remit for commissioners and service providers to tackle ethnic inequality. DRE also led to the introduction of Community Development Workers (CDWs) and the Count Me In survey, the only UK census that includes all in-patients in mental health services, and has a breakdown by ethnicity.

Patrick Vernon CEO of the Afiya Trust in a recent article stated “There are renewed calls for The Department of Health to develop a new national strategy to tackle race inequality in mental health services, including on workforce development and leadership, and improve outcomes for Black communities. This should build on lessons learned from Delivering Race Equality Strategy.”

In addition calls for the reintroduction of RECAP training - The Race Equality and Cultural Awareness Programme cultural competency training to be mandatory, it is well established that in order to provide culturally competent care, knowledge of cultural beliefs, values and practices is necessary otherwise health practitioners can easily fall prey to errors of diagnosis, inappropriate management and poor compliance.

Jed Murray NBMC

Jed Murray

NBMC

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STAND UP TO RACISM REPORT BY SANDRA CHARLES,

UNISON SE REGIONAL BLACK MEMBERS WOMENS OFFICER

This was a local public meeting on Stand Up to Racism held at

Portsmouth Central library on 14th March as a run up to the

International Stand Up to Racism Rally to be held on following

Saturday 19th March.

I spoke as the UNISON Equalities Officer for the Portsmouth City

branch and also as a direct causality of the cuts that Portsmouth

City council inflicted on the Hate Crime Service that will cease at

the end of March 2016 and had previously been in operation since

1993. The meeting had a very good turnout with a mixture of both

students and local people who have a passion to help and support

both the local BME community and deplore the scapegoating and

racism being dished out globally.

Other members of the panel were (from left) Ziuber Hatia local

community activist, myself, Simon Magorian Chair of local United

Against Fascism , Sabby Dhalu Guest Speaker from London and Richie Moron ex footballer and

community activist.

Sandra Charles RBMC Women’s Officer

UNISON NELSON MANDELA AWARD 2017

UNISON 2015 Black members’ conference resolved to establish a Nelson Mandela award that em-bodies his attributes and becomes an annual feature of the conference.

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black president saw in democracy after decades of apartheid rule which for Black people meant living with years of racial segregation and systemic op-pression. His vision was for a truly united South Africa and he became a powerful global figure of re-sistance.

Our union is proud to have made Mandela an honorary president of UNISON and to have stood by him and others in the movement on their historic struggle for equality, justice and in ending apartheid.

Amongst our Black membership we recognise that there is an abundance of talent and that there are many people who tirelessly contribute to the fight for racial equality.

The award will be presented to a Black member who has supported and ‘gone above and beyond to represent Black members’ celebrating their achievements, courage and determination within the un-ion and more widely in our society.

The award winner will be invited to attend the next Black members’ conference as a guest of the Na-tional Committee where they will be presented with the award.

Submitting a qualifying nomination:

The nominating body should complete the attached nomination form

Nominations should be supported by branches or regional Black members’ committees

Completed forms with all the relevant signatures should be sent by email to Blackmembers@UNISON.co.uk or posted to Bukky Akinwale at the UNISON Centre, 130 Eus-ton Road NW1 2AY and received by 31st August 2016 5pm

Dates:

Signed nomination forms submission deadline – 31st August 5pm

Award winner contacted and announced – 23rd September

Award presented at 2017 Black members conference, Brighton, 20th – 22nd January 2017

Sandra Charles

RBMC Women’s Officer

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UNISON INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR REPORT 3RD-4TH MARCH 2016, SHEFFIELD

I attended the annual International seminar in my role of Branch International Relations Officer (BIRO). For the first time the seminar was also open for Black members who were not BIRO’s to attend to increase diversity and take on a broader range of views. There were more Black members than usual but it would have been nice to see some more.

The seminar took place over two days and covered a wide range of topics that UNISON has been campaigning on for a number of years. The seminar was attended by 100 people from across the country. The current UNISON president Wendy Nichols opened the proceedings on Friday evening outlining her role and the valuable work of the NEC International committee. A presentation was also made on the work being done to support workers in Palestine. A UNISON delegation was due to go to Palestine in April 2016.

The Saturday morning session highlighted UNISON’s priorities for international work in 2016. This included four priority areas of work

Palestine Colombia Qatar Free Trade Agreements

Additionally two themes will be developed throughout the year:

ethical procurement and supply chain management public services in the global south

There were also sessions on the Justice for Colombia campaign and members of a delegation who visited provided feedback on the current situation in the country for workers. UNISON international will continue to promote the work of Justice for Colombia through the report and film of the 2015 UNISON delegation and increase region and branch affiliation through organising a speaker tour.

A review of the role of the BIRO was the subject of one session and this was useful to all in attendance in assisting with how we can make a difference and ensure that international issues are raised and promoted and campaigns supported.

A very useful calendar of activities was shared with the delegates. This provided details of key international events that a branch or self-organised group could organise around or promote. Black members may wish for example to promote in their branches Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition day on the 23

rd August. Suggested activities are included for 23

rd

August:

Liaise with Black members officer on possible actions in your branch Publicise issue of modern day slavery especially in Qatar where FIFA World Cup taking place in 2022, and in UK where forced labour is on the rise

Carol Valentine

Kent Branch International

Relations Officer (job share)

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UNISON International seminar continued...

Materials for campaigns are available from UNISON and can be ordered in advance of any commemoration or celebration. There are many other ideas and these can be found on the UNISON website.

The work done by the International team and international officers is integral to UNISON’s work

and objectives. The seminar was well worth attending and I would encourage Black members to

get involved at branch and regional level.

Carol Valentine Kent Branch International Relations Officer (Job share)

FULL DEFINTION OF BLACK In UNISON, ‘Black’ – with a capital B – is used to indicate people with a shared history. ‘Black’ is used in a broad political and inclusive sense to describe people in the UK who have suffered from colonialism and enslavement in the past and continue to experience racism and diminished opportunities in today’s society.

The terms ‘minority ethnic’ and ‘ethnic minority’ are in widespread official use. But these terms have negative connotations of being marginal or less important. In many neighbourhoods, towns and cities in the UK it is statistically inaccurate or misleading to describe Black groups as a minority.

Since the ’70s the term ‘Black’ has been used in anti-racist campaigning in recognition of the common struggle against racism and under-representation.

Language changes and evolves but terminology is always important in terms of intention and

direction. Using ‘Black’ is about creating unity in the fight against deep-rooted racism that sees

Black people disadvantaged in housing, education, employment and the criminal justice and

health systems.

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REGIONAL BLACK MEMBERS COMMITTEE CONTACT & SOCIAL

MEDIA INFORMATION

To join the South East RBMC mailing list or for more information please contact:

Rosita Ellis Regional Black Members Committee Chair

Email: Danielle Bruce via email: d.bruce@UNISON.co.uk

Tel: 01483 406504

Fax: 01483 570271

Post: UNISON, Ranger House, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4UL

UNISON SE Black Members Website:

www.UNISON.org.uk/southeast/Blackmember

UNISON SE Black Members Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/UNISONsoutheastBlackmembers

Mailings are send via e-mail. Please request hard copies to be posted if you need this.

To add your name to the national mailing list, receive e-mail copies of Black Action, the national Black members’ newsletter, and other national information please send an email to:

Email: Blackmembers@UNISON.co.uk

OR

Email: www.UNISON.org.uk/Blackmembers/mailinglist.asp

UNISON NATIONAL BLACK MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE

Date: 20th-22nd January 2017

Venue: Brighton Centre, Brighton

Please visit the UNISON National Website www.UNISON.co.uk for further details