The NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across Suffolk and north east Essex have become the first in the country to sign up to UNISON’s anti-racism charter.
The pledge ensures, within the first 12 months, the organisation has implemented a clear and visible race equality policy, a programme of anti-racism initiatives and actions and ensures there is a programme of equality training for staff across the organisation. It also stipulates strong measures are implemented to remove any instances of racial discrimination in all its forms.
CCGs director of workforce and system infrastructure Amanda Lyes said: “This is a very important milestone for us.
“It is part of our broader equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.
“We are very proud to be working in partnership with UNISON, and launching such an important policy around anti-racism is integral to everything that we do.
“I am delighted that we are one of the very first CCGs to sign up to this charter, but we also want to take this one step further.
“We want to now expand this so that we have a wider and consistent system approach to anti-racism.
“Therefore, in the coming weeks we will be promoting across the system to get wider buy in from our partners.
“This is a good charter and symbol which recognises that we as an employer and as a wider system are committed to anti-racism.”
UNISON Eastern regional organiser Winston Dorsett said: “Black employees often have a radically different experience to white employees, even in the public sector.
“Black workers are paid less, more likely to be subject to disciplinary procedures, less likely to access training and more likely to be dismissed or made redundant.
“As the first organisations to sign this pledge, the Suffolk and north east Essex CCGs are leading the way in recognising that disparity and making every effort to tackle it.”
