An event to help Sheffield City Council eliminate racism has been organised by the UNISON City of Sheffield branch.
The council was assessed to be “institutionally racist” by the Race Equality Commission and a three-year improvement plan introduced in an effort to change culture, structures, processes, policies and systems.
Both the chief executive and new leader of Sheffield City Council have said they would like to attend event organised for UNISON’s Year of Black Workers at Sheffield Town Hall next Tuesday (5 September).
UNISON has also invited the council to sign the union’s anti-racism charter, as part of its commitment to work with Sheffield City Council to improve the lives of Black workers and help the authority to become an anti-racist organisation.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “It’s clearly a huge concern that Sheffield City Council has been found to be institutionally racist.
“This event will celebrate Black workers at the council and the attendance of senior figures will show hopefully that there’s a commitment to improve.
“Signing the anti-racism charter in the coming weeks would further demonstrate the council’s determination to change.”
UNISON City of Sheffield joint branch secretary Camilla Sherwin said: “UNISON’S Year of Black Workers is all about focusing on the important issues that affect Black workers and their everyday lives.
“Hopefully this event is the first of many steps taken by the council to do better by its Black employees.”
