"Shared Vision" is the Key to Black Members success

by David Okalo Lothian Health Black Members

"Shared Vision" is the key to black members' success was the message from Hamid Rasheed, the Chair of UNISONScotland's Black Members Group, to the Black Members Group of Lothian Health Branch at their second meeting on 11 August.

Guest speaker, Hamid said, "It is vital to have a shared vision, if the UNISON black members' really wish to mark their success.

"We need to build on our success and distribute our shared vision, aims and values among our black members in a collegiate way; we can only achieve further success if we work together to promote, influence and deliver improved and sustained outcomes in the wider benefit of our black members".

He said that black members have to unite to fight against discrimination, which takes different forms and shapes and hits human beings hard. And in doing so discrimination does not recognise colour, caste, creed, gender, age, religion, sexuality or even our ethnic backgrounds of our members.

There is a need to achieve Scottish black members priority targets such as recruitment, ensuring equality, communications to influence policy, learning and organising, if we are to provide improved and sustainable services to our black members.

Ismail Donmez, Secretary UNISONScotland Black Members, also spoke to the forum on how to achieve policy objectives. He said: "Black members achieve their policy objectives in more than one way. They move motions at various conferences, engage in consultations, or in processes such as lobbying to influence policy on issues affecting black people".

Both speeches were warmly received by Lothian Health black members at the meeting. The meeting was successful and two new members expressed an interest in becoming stewards.

Menchie Aquino a black member of the branch said: "The chair is right. We have problems and we must unite to combat discrimination. It is our responsibility to increase our numbers".

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