Scottish Black Members training marks success

This year's Scottish black members training weekend brought in new and old members to learn and organise, to contribute to the work of UNISON Scotland - defending the rights of its members by eliminating all forms of discrimination at all levels, reports Ismail Donmez, Scottish Black Members Secretary.

Lothian Health's Tina Makedinge praised the input of Bob Cotton Award Winner, Ghulam Rasul Shahzad, who was brought up especially from England to tutor on the course.

Glasgow's Akinola Obefemi agreed, "The tutors were master of the topics they lectured. They got us really involved."

Hamid Rasheed, Scottish Black Members Chair, said, "It all started when the SBMC realised that there is lot of goodwill and support for our cause in the Scottish Learning and Organising Committee and Scottish Branches.

"Our aim was if branches are happy to cover the cost of training of more than one delegates, then they must get the best Black tutor in the UK

"Organising the training weekend was a daunting challenge. It was in 2004 when we last had such an event. There were loads of problems and obstacles in our way, for example there are no fully qualified Black tutors in UNISON Scotland".

He thanked Anne Cascarino, Scottish Learning and Organising Officer, for her support in getting the event together. The measure of the success was that:-

· 85% delegates were new to the training event

· Excellent interactive tutorial inputs, with high levels of delegate satisfaction

· Highly motivated delegates' participation in all the training exercises

· Explicit commitment of Scottish Branches to send more than one delegate this year compared to past years.

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