Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT – The Teachers’
Union, has been chosen to chair the TUC’s new antiracism task
force.
This task force, involving General Secretaries and other senior
leaders from across the trade union movement and civil society,
will be launched today (Tuesday) as part of TUC Congress 2020.
The task force will lead the development of an action plan to
tackle racial inequality at work.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:
“Regrettably, we continue to see evidence of the searing and
devastating impact of racism and racial inequality on the lives
of Black workers across all sectors of the labour market and in
the wider economy.
“There is no excuse for systems and practices which hold back
talent or put workers at greater risk of illness or injury
because of the colour of their skin. The antiracism task force
will be unapologetic in calling out racial injustice and
institutional racism wherever it exists.
“The task force will be taking forward a wide-ranging programme
of action to tackle racial discrimination and ensure fairness and
decent treatment at work.”
Dr Roach took up the post of General Secretary of the NASUWT in
April 2020. He previously served as the Deputy General Secretary
of the union for ten years.
As part of its Act for Racial Justice campaign, the NASUWT has
been campaigning for the Government to publish evidence on the
racial equality impact of its decisions for reopening schools,
given the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 infections and
deaths on BAME people. So far, the Government has refused to
publish this information.
Dr Roach added:
“In order to make real progress there needs to be an open and
honest assessment of the issues and a willingness to change.
“The Government can no longer hide behind its assertion that it
is not in the public interest to publish information on the
racial equality impact of its decisions.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has exposed evidence of searing racial
injustices in the economy and in our workplaces, which means
Black workers are more likely to be in low-paid and insecure
employment and in jobs where workers are at higher risk of
catching Coronavirus and dying on the job.
“We will be unapologetic in calling out racial inequality, racial
injustice and institutional racism wherever it exists.”
