Race, racism and the workplace

Delegates at the racism seminar

About the seminar

“engaging, infomative, engaged”
“clear, informative overview of challenges for Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority trade unionists”

just some of the ways delegates described our seminar. The focus of the seminar was around the legal definitions of racism in employment; migrant workers and racism and how the economic environment has distorted understanding of racism.

The first speaker was Rakesh Patel from Thompsons Solicitors who outlined race dsicrimination as outlined in the Equality Act, previous legislation and the manifestations of racism as defined by the law

Prof Sonia McKay of the Working Lives Research Institute examined the nature of racism faced by migrant workers. Sonia examined the historical racism of immigration controls and the recent case of the Morecambe Bay Cockle Pickers to paint a picture of an immigration system mired in Imperialist British values.

Wilf Sullivan, who is the Race Equality Officer at the TUC completed our speakers’ contributions with a striking analysis of the economic recession and its fallout globally and locally.

We had very involved and strong discussion from the delegates also.

The Institute has published extensively in this area:

Agency work and Migrant Workers by Sonia MckKay

Labour Migration and Employment Law in 2005 Order your copy here=

The Unorganised Vulnerable Worker: The Case for Union Organising