BAME workers urged to share their experiences

THE Wales TUC is inviting workers from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to share their experiences of the workplace and tell the trade union umbrella organisation if their workplace is treating them fairly.

The Wales TUC has developed this survey in response to BAME union members describing how they have been discriminated against in a number of ways.

Workers have reported experiences such as being singled out for more dangerous or difficult work, not getting access to adequate PPE, not being furloughed despite having health conditions, being targeted when hours or jobs are being cut and being racially abused by colleagues or customers.

The Wales TUC is asking workers in Wales to share their experiences of the Welsh workplace and to suggest what needs to change.

Kebba Manneh, chair of Unison Cymru Wales Black Members Group, said: “This excellent Wales TUC survey is very relevant to our times. The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on black people and the Black Lives Matter protests have shown everyone that systemic institutional and structural racism is a pandemic. UK Government and Welsh Government can effectively address it by showing the same effort they are displaying in tackling the coronavirus. We need action, not rhetoric.

“We need to gather the experiences of black people in the workplace and trade unions will use this evidence to fight for change and a better world.”