The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is the first NHS Trust to have signed up to UNISON’s new Anti-Racism Charter which aims to help tackle racism in the public sector.
The charter commits organisations and their leaders to a raft of pledges designed to prevent all forms of conscious or unconscious racial bias.
This includes championing a racially diverse workforce, recognising the impact of racism on staff wellbeing and regularly reviewing its strategies to improve racial equality, diversity and inclusion so that the organisation reflects the communities it serves.
The charter also states that organisations should have a clear and visible anti-racism programme in place, while unconscious bias training should be provided for all staff and robust equality training for managers.
Organisations will also report on their ethnicity pay gaps and monitor disciplinary and grievance processes to ensure outcomes are fair.
Tom Abell, Chief Executive of the East of England Ambulance Service, said: “I am delighted that EEAST is among the first NHS trusts to have signed this important Anti-Racism Charter. It underlines our commitment to eliminating discrimination in all forms at the Trust.
“Signing this charter is an important part of our inclusion work as we work to make EEAST a better place to work and receive care.”
Paramedic and UNISON EEAST chair Glenn Carrington said: “Official figures show that Black and ethnic minority employees often have a different experience to their white colleagues, even in the public sector. By signing this charter, the ambulance service is making a real commitment to tackling the disparities which exist between different groups.
“A fairer workplace is a better workplace so by actively combatting discrimination, EEAST will be ensuring a better ambulance service for people across the east of England.”
