Racism and religious discrimination

Guidance & briefings

Black members' survival guide

UCU has published the Black Members' Survival Guide. It provides vital information, advice and support for black members to defend their rights at work, progress in their careers and combat discrimination and racism in the workplace. It contains information on union structures, what to do if you are being discriminated against, the law, as well as guidance on applying for jobs and promotion and progression.

You can download the pamphlet below, or contact eqadmin@ucu.org.uk for a hard copy.

Survival: a guide for black workers & higher in further education [1mb]

Building anti-racist workplaces: a short guide for UCU branches

During the early summer of 2020 many institutions declared support for George Floyd, the black man killed by police in the United States, while reiterating their anti-racist credentials. Although these statements are welcome it is more important than ever for branches to consider how they can challenge racism at all levels and work to create anti-racist environments. UCU has produced a short guide for branches: Building anti-racist workplaces [288kb]

Tackling workplace racism

UCU branches have a role in challenging structures and processes within the workplace that disadvantage black workers. This guidance will help UCU branches to be active in identifying and tackling issues that affect black workers in general.

Tackling workplace racism - a UCU bargaining guide for branches, Jul 16 [343kb]
Tackling workplace racism - a UCU bargaining guide for branches, Jul 16 [248kb]

UCU Black Lives Matter: real change for racial justice - a resource pack for members

This pack aims to provide members with a range of resources which articulate the reason and rationale why we must continue to push for change. Reps, educators, and anyone interested and committed to being part of the conversation that moves us forward will find a wealth of material that can be used to both inform curriculum development and develop initiatives that demonstrate that black lives really do matter: Real change for racial justice: resource pack [399kb]

Challenging anti-Muslim racism

Anti-Muslim racism is on the rise across both the FE and HE sectors and more widely in communities. This briefing paper provides guidance to members on how best to combat anti-Muslim racism.

Challenging anti-Muslim racism [231kb]  |  Challenging anti-Muslim racism [84kb]

Prevent

A guide for higher education providers in England on how to use equality and human rights law in the context of Prevent. These EHRC guidance can be used in cross reference with the UCU guidance:

• Delivering the Prevent duty in a proportionate and fair way
• Delivering the Prevent duty in a proportionate and fair way - Wales
• 'Prevent'

Religion and belief in the workplace

It is important that terms and conditions and other workplace practices take into account a worker's religion or protected belief. UCU branches and members will seek to ensure that the beliefs and/or religious observances of all members are met by the employer and within the branch.

• Religion or belief in the workplace [178kb]
• Religious attire policy: UCU briefing note [18kb]

UCU anti-semitism leaflet

UCU is committed to combating anti-semitism. It has produced a leaflet which has been revised in January 2015 on the subject for branches to use, which you can download below, or request a hard copy at eqadmin@ucu.org.uk

UCU - challenging anti-semitism leaflet [67kb]

Research

Greater commitments needed from universities to advance race equality

A report published in September 2018 says that senior staff must ensure race equality policies are implemented, if universities are to address the attainment gap between students from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds and their white counterparts

The report [435kb], looking at the Race Equality Charter (REC)*, also calls for annual audits of universities' efforts to address the BME attainment gap and to provide universities that do achieve the REC with a boost when it comes to research funding.

See also: Greater commitments needed from universities to advance race equality, says report

The experiences of black and minority ethnic staff in further and higher education

A UCU survey found that 90% of black staff members report having faced barriers to promotion in colleges and universities, and over two-thirds (71%) said they had 'often' or 'sometimes' been subject to bullying and harassment from managers.

The experiences of black and minority ethnic staff in further and higher education, Feb 16 [132kb]

See also: UCU report finds high levels of discrimination

UCU briefing on deaths in custody

In line with UCU Congress 2014 resolution 69 - Black Deaths in Custody, UCU has produced a briefing on this issue:

Deaths in custody - briefing [285kb]  
Deaths in custody - briefing [69kb]

The Institute of Race Relations published a report 'Dying for Justice' which gives the background on 509 people (an average of 22 per year) from BAME, refugee and migrant communities who have died between 1991-2014 in suspicious circumstances in which the police, prison authorities or immigration detention officers have been implicated. Co-editor, Harmit Athwal said 'if the Macpherson report was intended as a way of restoring community faith in the British police, the issue of deaths in custody is the one which is constantly undermining it. As more deaths take place and no one is ever prosecuted, it inevitably sows seeds of incredulity, anger and despair'.

Download Dying for Justice: Dying for Justice [2mb]