IN THIS ISSUE: 09 WOMEN’S SECTION 13 CWU ❤ PRIDE 17 GRUNWICK DISPUTE 22 TIME TO TALK A TUC report says two thirds of The story of how CWU members 40 Years on from the Grunwick The Word looks at the help young women have experienced got involved in Pride events this dispute, how much has really and options available when sexual harassment at work year, across the whole of the UK changed for black workers? trying to fight depression CWU EQUALITIES MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2016 WWW.CWU.ORG TIME TO STAND AND FIGHT ON EQUALITY EDITOR’S COLUMN ContactUs WELCOME CWU The Communications Union DAVE WARD commonplace in the workplace. 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, GENERAL SECRETARY London SW19 1RX The Brexit vote also could see the T: 020 8971 7200 he equalities agenda has come removal of certain equality protections E: [email protected] W: www.cwu.org under increasing attack over recent that have come to British workers via the General Secretary times. EU. The trends identified above could DAVE WARD T grow even worse with rogue employers E: [email protected] At the time of the last Labour @davewardGS government the Equalities Act 2010 came backed by a right wing Conservative Publications Editor onto the statute book – marking some government able to further attack SIMON ALFORD E: [email protected] significant gains for working people. Yet worker’s rights. Consulting Editor as this edition of ‘The Word’ reflects there So there is much to be done. There PAUL DONOVAN seems to be a real slowing of momentum, has been progress made on the equality BT Pensioner Helpline agenda but recent events certainly T: 0800 731 1919 when it comes to achieving the goal of Accenture BT Pension creating a more equal society. underline growing threats. It is important Central T: 0800 731 1919 So we learn of the growing gender gap to remember that many of the great BT Benevolent Fund in pay between women who become advances in equality across society have T: 0845 602 9714 Royal Mail Pensioner mothers and their male counterparts, been attained as a result of the struggle Helpline of trade unions. It has been a successful T: 0845 603 0043 black and ethnic minorities are more Royal Mail Pensions Centre likely to be underemployed than their collective effort. We have made major T: 0800 731 1919 gains but now the time has come to not Rowland Hill Fund white counterparts and T: 0800 232 1762 Muslim women are the only defend those gains but seek to push Support your magazine most discriminated against that equality agenda ever further forward. and send items for the in the workforce. Sexual There is still a lot to be done before we next issue to: The Editor, SDGS Department, harassment, particularly truly become an equal society. 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX against younger women, remains Published on behalf of CWU Century One Publishing Ltd. Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road LINDA ROY conference(s), I would encourage you St. Albans, Herts AL3 4DG EQUALITIES DEPARTMENT T: 01727 893 894 to come along and experience the F: 01727 893 895 Hello everyone, welcome to the conference(s). E: [email protected] W: www.centuryonepublishing.uk second edition of our equality The Equality conferences give our Senior Designer publication, ‘The Word’. The first members the opportunity to have Dan Angel issue was sent out during annual their say on issues which affect them Cover image conference and the feedback we have in the working environment. It’s an A.Katz/Shutterstock.com received has been really positive. opportunity to directly influence CWU Copyright Reproduction in whole or part by any means without written permission of the Well done to everyone who policy and motions – as all motions publisher is strictly forbidden. The publisher accepts no responsibility for errors, omissions contributed. It is our intention to build that are carried are acted upon by the or the consequences on this positivity. relevant advisory committee, and this thereof. The views and Equality Day at annual conference forms their work for the coming year. opinions expressed was also successful. Equality is an The face of the CWU membership in’The Word’are not important area as it affects everything is changing and it is vital that you are necessarily those of the we do; the mentoring scheme is part of that change, so come CWU, the RMAC or along and join us, join the editorial coming together; training has been team. in the debates, you may © CWU 2016 given to mentors and mentees and this will progress over the coming find it interesting and months. Some of you will be reading worthwhile. this magazine as we are going into the Equality conference season, if you have not attended any Equality Linda Roy 02 AUTUMN 2016 THE WORD NEWS TO FIND OUT MORE AND GET INVOLVED contact [email protected] BAME WORKERS WEST HAM FANS JOIN TRADE UNION CAMPAIGN A THIRD MORE FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS IN QATAR LIKELY TO BE UNDEREMPLOYED A TUC report has found Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers are a third more likely to be Fans reaching out to Qatari workers underemployed than white workers. West Ham United’s first Premier TUC Colin Bull questioned why Qatar Figures from the Office for League match at their new London has failed to match the good health National Statistics show that Stadium was used by a trade union and safety record of the Olympic for the first quarter of 2016, and football supporter-backed stadium in London. BAME workers faced an campaign to highlight the ongoing “There are two or three deaths a underemployment rate of 15.3%, horror of Qatar’s World Cup day in Qatar,” he said. “I don’t see why compared to a rate of 11.5% for preparation. they cannot adopt the same standards white workers. Thousands of migrant workers we have in this country.” The TUC analysis came just have been exploited building the Jonathan Havard, a West Ham after the Equality and Human infrastructure for the 2022 tournament supporter and national secretary at Rights Commission found that – with many deaths. maritime union Nautilus, declared BAME workers also face higher The protest at the London Stadium that the Qatari authorities cannot be unemployment rates, lower pay, marked the start of a series of days allowed to plough over workers’ rights and are underrepresented in of action by Playfair Qatar, the unimpeded. senior roles. TUC’s campaign with the Football “Whatever faults West Ham might Supporters’ Federation to raise have, there is a unionised workforce awareness of the exploitation and here and health and safety is a % abuse of rights faced by workers in the priority,” he said. Gulf state. Stephen highlighted that FIFA 15.3 Campaign coordinator and TUC has the power to put pressure on BAME workers underemployment rate policy officer Stephen Russell said: the Qatari government to ensure “This stadium was at the heart of the that proper health and safety and TUC General Secretary safest Olympics ever — no-one lost work conditions are applied, though Frances O’ Grady said: their lives. football’s world governing body “Underemployment is a major “If these standards can be applied has continually ignored calls from problem in the UK, and it only for the Olympics they can also happen the ITUC, GMB and Amnesty gets worse if you’re black, Asian, for the World Cup. International to strip Qatar of the or part of any ethnic minority. “As a mega-sporting event it tournament. This is not only wrong, but a stands in stark contrast to the “It is making no effort to reform,” massive waste of talent too. situation in Qatar where hundreds, Stephen added. “Qatar continues with “We know this is part of if not thousands, of people are at risk the Kafala system which binds people a much bigger story. BAME building both the infrastructure and in jobs for five years, unable to quit and workers are more likely to be stadiums.” go to another employer or even just to unemployed, paid less, and It has been well documented that leave and go back to their families. aren’t getting enough of the top some 1,200 migrant workers have lost “I am not sure what FIFA stand jobs. their lives while preparing for the to gain from refusing to act. If FIFA “Employers and the Qatar World Cup. However, the Qatar doesn’t take action in Qatar, as the only government cannot afford to Ministry of Health has estimated that remaining agency able to compel the ignore these problems. They there could be 7,000 deaths before a Qataris — who clearly have no interest must now take real action to ball is kicked. in reforming themselves — then they tackle underemployment and Treasurer of Southern and Eastern will have blood on their hands.” pay discrimination.” THE WORD AUTUMN 2016 03 TO FIND OUT MORE AND GET INVOLVED contact [email protected] MOTHERS FACE A WIDENING PAY GAP WITH THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that “Without more well-paid, part-time jobs and while the overall gender pay gap had narrowed over affordable childcare, the gender pay gap will take the past two decades, women with children were decades to close. falling behind. “We need to see a step change in government Carried out for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation policy and employer attitudes if we are to fix this charity, the study found that average hourly pay problem.” rates for women are currently around 18 per cent The IFS report suggested that the lower than for men.