UNISON Hertfordshire

Black/EthnicMinority Workers

UNISON celebrates the journey of Black trade unionism

A networking and community event to celebrate Black History Month.

A free one-day event focusing on the journey and link with trade unionism that brought many Black people to the shores of Great Britain. The theme for the event is “The History of Black Trade Unionism across the Diaspora – The Journey”.

There will be presentations on educational aspect of Black History Month which will also include music, poetry, food from different continents of the world and lots of drinks and nibbles. There will be an opportunity to network across the trade union movement and wider community.

Speakers

We’re still finalising the programme but you will hear from:

Dave Prentis, General Secretary
Margaret Mckee, UNISON President
Rakesh Patel, Thompsons Solicitors
Francis Duku, Show Racism the Red Card
Oku Ekpenyon, Memorial 2007
And others.

Registration

This is the first inaugural event that national UNISON will be organising in conjunction with regional support for Black History Month in October.

2018 Black Members’ Conference

19 – 21 January 2018

BT Centre, Liverpool

2018 Black Members’ Conference

19 – 21 January 2018

BT Centre, Liverpool

The national conference of UNISON’s Black members’ self-organised group.

A tribute to Jayaben Desai

A tribute to Jayaben Desai: An unlikely and reluctant star of the British trade union movement

2 October 2017 5:30pm–8:30pm

Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

A SERTC Black History Month event celebrating the life of Jayaben Desai who fought for better pay, conditions and dignity for workers in 1976 and 1977, on behalf of 137 sacked and poorly paid Asian women.

Know someone who goes ‘above and beyond’ for Black members

UNISON presents the Nelson Mandela Award every year to someone who has ‘gone above and beyond to represent Black members’, following a decision at the 2015 Black members’ conference.

Nelson Mandela was South Africa’s first Black president, who saw democracy established after decades of apartheid rule which, for Black people, meant living with years of racial segregation and systemic oppression.

His vision was for a truly united South Africa and he became a powerful global figure of resistance.

UNISON is proud to have made Mandela an honorary president and to have stood by him and others in their historic struggle for equality, justice and bring an ending apartheid.

The union recognises that there is an abundance of talent among our Black membership and that there are many people who tirelessly contribute to the fight for racial equality.

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

The award winner will be invited to attend the next Black members’ conference, as a guest of the national committee, where they will be presented with the award.

Submitting a qualifying nomination

The nominating body should complete the 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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or posted to Bukky Akinwale at the UNISON centre, 130 Euston Road NW1 2AY and received by 5pm on 31 August 2016.