Headlines Black Members Newsletter Join me at the St Andrew's Day March Zia Hussain Hamid Rasheed, Chair Scottish Black Member of UNISON invites Scottish black members to join him at the St Andrew's Day Anti Racism March and Rally, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday 24 November 2007. The march assembles at 10.30 am in Blythswood Square, Glasgow. The march will start at 11.00am and the Rally will take place at 12 noon at Glasgow Film Theatre, Rose Street, Glasgow. The SBMC Chair said: "It is vital for Scottish Black Members of UNISON to take part in this Anti-Racism march. It is an opportunity for us to send a clear message across that there is no room for racism in Scotland". Headlines Black Members Newsletter Immigration & Discrimination Matters at Lothian Health BMG Lui Giacomello Rita Kochar, Complainant Aid Officer / Solicitor for the Edinburgh & Lothian Racial Equality Council (ELREC) gave an informative talk to the members of UNISON Lothian Health Black Members Group, at their meeting on 22 October 2007. Rita spoke on Immigration/Discrimination matters especially about the recent changes in the immigration legislation that affects Senior Care Workers and UNISON Black members at work. UNISON challenged the recent Highly Skilled Migrants Programme amendments. As a result transitional arrangements have been introduced, to waive the work permit skills criteria for in-country extension. Now the applications for Senior Care Workers will be considered after 13 August 2007. All other criteria will continue to apply. A question and answer session followed after Rita's informative talk. The group members raised specific issues regarding visas, work permits and discrimination. David Olwa, Chair of UNISON Lothian Health Black Members Group, thanked Rita for coming to do a presentation. At the end of the session, Tina Makedenge, Vice Chair of the group presented Rita with a bouquet of flowers. Headlines Black Members Newsletter Protection from Harassment Act Tackling Harassment at Work Tackling Harassment at Work UNISON Scotland launched a report Violent Assaults on Public Service Workers in Scotland. That report highlights the continuing high level of assaults on public service workers and an action plan to address this issue. The general principle behind the Act is to protect persons from harassment. This is particularly so against the background of traditional remedies of actions for damages and interdict being inadequate, ineffective and costly. The relevant sections applicable to Scotland in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 are Sections 8 to 11. The Act was further amended by Section 49 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003. In terms of Section 8 of the Act every individual has the right to be free from harassment and the person must not pursue a course of conduct which amounts to harassment of another. The course of conduct must either be intended to amount to harassment of the person or occurs in circumstances where it would appear to a reasonable person that it would amount to harassment of that person. · The course of conduct must involve conduct on at least 2 occasions. · The harassment includes causing the person alarm or distress. · The conduct includes speech. This means that the conduct in question is therefore not confined to physical abuse or violence. It applies to verbal abuse. For more information P & I briefing 150 Protection from Harassment Act is at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/harassmentprotect.html Headlines Black Members Newsletter 69% BEM members working in the health services suffered racism A health group survey of 2000 "Black and Ethnic Minority" workers in the Health Services revealed that 69% BEM members working in the health services suffered racism at work. Of those who had experienced racism at work: · 83% had suffered verbal attacks · 9% had suffered physical attacks · 61% racist incidents were from patients · 39% were from managers · And 24% were from members of the public One ambulance dispatcher commented in the survey: "The abuse is very upsetting and relentless. I wanted to do this job because it's helping people and I care for people, but racist abuse is an everyday occurrence." In response to the above findings UNISON launched a hotline to tackle racism in the NHS. The hotline is supported by UNISONdirect and is being widely advertised in NHS workplaces using postcards and posters "See Racism Hear Racism Report Racism". Announcing the new service, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said a survey of 2,000 black and ethnic minority members had revealed that 69% had suffered from racism at work. We want to banish all forms of racism from our NHS. Mr Prentis said: "We have people from all over the world working in our world-class health service. We believe they have a right to dignity and respect and protection from racism." The launch of a Local Government hotline to tackle racism in the work places, with similar postcard and posters campaign is due next year.   Headlines