Nicky Ramanandi is UNISON Northern’s Regional Convenor. For this guest post Nicky talks about Black History Month and how UNISON supports black members.
October is black history month, it’s a month where we come together to celebrate the contribution that black people have made to society and continue to do so. It’s also a month however, where we remember our struggle and 2020 has been a year that shows what it’s like to be black in society today, whether that be the brutal murder of George Floyd or the disproportionate impact COVID has had on black people. I am the first black regional convenor in UNISON Northern and I am really proud of that fact, I am proud of my heritage and I am proud to class myself as black.
I am the first black regional convenor in UNISON Northern and I am really proud of that fact, I am proud of my heritage and I am proud to class myself as black.
I have worked in public services all my life so has most of my family and I do that because I truly believe in well run public services run by public bodies. The Tory agenda has shown what privatisation has done to our public services and no more so than how we have seen them manage some aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I have worked in public services all my life so has most of my family and I do that because I truly believe in well run public services run by public bodies.
In UNISON we have a very strong and active Black Member’s Self Organised Group, they meet regularly and they provide support to members UNISON members in workplaces. We have members across a broad range of workplaces and it is those black activists who support those members, no more so that at a time of need like COVID has shown. Black members support black members in workplaces.
This month will highlight the good work that black people do in society, I hope you enjoy the events that we hold and that the month is a success.
We have launched a new webpage that details our anti-racism work and to showcase what we have been doing over many years and the work we will continue to do with our partners at Show Racism the Red Card.
If you would like to be involved in our Black Members Self Organised Group, get in touch.
Nicky Ramanandi
