Race

TUC Black Workers

The TUC campaigns against racial discrimination, institutional racism and for race equality for Black workers at work and in society. The TUC uses the term Black worker as a political description of workers who are viewed and treated as culturally and intellectually inferior because they are perceived to be non white and who often share a common history of oppression and exploitation through colonialism and imperialism.

The TUC’s work on campaigning for race equality has been guided by the TUC Race Relations Committee which was established in 1985 and by the annual TUC Black workers conference which first met in 1988.

Following the tragic death of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, the subsequent successful campaign supported by the TUC for an inquiry into his death, and the publication of Sir William Macpherson’s Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report in 1999, the TUC set up its own Task Group in 2000. The Task Group’s work was an extension of the priority given by the General Council to race issues, As a result of the task group’s work the TUC constitution was changed in 2001 making it a condition of membership that unions fight and promote equality.

Advice and information

The TUC publishes guidance for trade unions on tackling racism in the workplace taking into account recent legal changes and current good practice,

There are now Black workers groups within all major UK trade unions; members should visit their union’s website for further information. In addition, regional trade union Black Workers Committees or networks function in most of the TUC regions and in Wales.

The TUC also publishes Black Matters a newsletter bringing you news on issues about black workers and employment. Subscribe here.

You can find recent TUC information and materials on the work of the TUC in the following areas:

– Black Workers and the Labour Market
– Campaigns
– Black Workers Conference