Norwich City Council has become the latest employer to sign up to UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter.
The charter commits employers to a raft of policies designed to challenge racism in the workplace, improving life for staff and therefore the services they provide to the public.
It includes championing a racially diverse workforce, having a clear programme of anti-racist initiatives and providing equality training for all staff.
The council will also be expected to report on its ethnicity pay gap and monitor disciplinary and grievance processes to ensure outcomes are fair.
Norwich City Council leader Alan Waters said: “We are proud to sign UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter and commit to fully implementing these important pledges. It is simply not enough to be non-racist. We want to go further to ensure our policies, processes, and organisational culture celebrate and champion the diversity of our whole workforce.
“We recognise our crucial role in tackling discrimination in all its forms. That is why we made equality for everyone in Norwich a key pillar of our recent Corporate Plan – through delivering accessible, fair services, as an employer, contractor of services and a community leader.
“Signing UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter represents the progression of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion as a council, and our goal to create a fairer and more equal society.”
UNISON Eastern regional organiser Cameron Matthews said: “It’s so important for local councils to make these real commitments to Black staff. Diverse, discrimination-free workplaces are better workplaces, able to better provide services for the people that rely on them.
“By signing UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter, the council is doing a great service to it’s staff and the people of Norwich.”
