'EQUAL opportunities for black and ethnic minority workers' is the title of the negotiators' pack produced by London NUPE help members fight racism. It argues that 'words paper are all very well, but it will only be when we get positive action to implement them that we can change things.
The introduction to the pack explains: our union we need to recognise that unless we delena lne rignts or and minority workers we will be helping the government to defeat the fight lor the low paid as a whole Fighting discrimination against them is one way of fighting for better conditions and opportunities for all manual workers.
'Formal law is not enough to change attitudes and formal equality is not enough to end discrimination. Heed called allow ethnic minorities to catch up with the experience of white employees, to overcome a lifetime of discrimination, and to change requirements recognise the positive perience of ethnic minority Workplace The pack outlines the steps necessary confront power of workplace. It argues for every employer to adopt policy of employers may see emplovers lilay horrified by the accusation that they discriminate against may not be aware of TaCa grounds. but they discrimination. As a rule of thumb, if black workers are to be found in a few departments only, or only at levels of work, indirect discrimination is present.
Any equal opportunities policy, must ensure: "I hat no one who applies for a job, or is already. employed, discrimination on racial grounds; that terms and conditions at work or in job applicanons do nol pul workers al a disadvantage on racial Socialist Challenge 12 February 1981
Socialist
spoke to Raghib Ahsan, T&GWU shop steward in Rover Solihull, about on the need for positive action.
'SINCE the early '50s people in Britain have become less, attitudes have given own way to racism and in many ethnic of tougher measures on the part of the state. "Today discriminated every turn, ment, housing, education, to CAthe the grounds; that all receive special training and encouragement to take advantage of equal opportunity at work A number of London coun cils have some form opportunities policy Camden Hackney, low and Wandsworth others.
For such policies to work a number practices cublovels faces need to change stuck with the idea of the 'best person for the job' there is seldom one best person LOT Different might not do the job less well, A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO WORK:
POSITIVE ACTION A Woman's Right to Work The case for positive action OUT NOW! onel Other Bookshop orders over 20. by Jude The next Mai dominate on positi job segre men Women per cent ings. •The going women a low paid Resolu Women's olde line UCATT, al surance a (BIFU) bot positive a TO WOme At th sponsored , IMG pam: positive a The arqued ac Pay and S Acts had tle
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