Many obstacles faced by black and Asian lecturers are similar to those faced by other staff. Colleges and universities are characterised by low pay, part-time working and job insecurity. As a union, we are committed to advancing members' conditions, improving career opportunities, and changing the working environment. Strong union organisation in the colleges will benefit both black and white alike.

But there are particular obstacles that black workers face. Race discrimination is widespread in further and higher education. Although Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students are well represented in post-16 education, most FE colleges employ less than 5% BME staff. British-born black and Asian staff are under-represented in the universities. In both sectors, minority staff are worse paid and less likely to hold senior or management positions. They are also more likely to be working on hourly contracts. This toolkit aims to help branches, individual representatives and NATFHE members, prevent race discrimination where possible and tackle if effectively where this was not possible.

The Race Relations Amendment Act puts a duty on employers to promote race equality. All public sector employers, including colleges and universities, must have a race policy. NATFHE and UNISON have produced joint guidance on Implementing the Race Relations Amendment Act (PDF).

In every further and higher education institution there should be a collective agreement containing policies and procedures and monitoring arrangements. The policy should follow the national agreements for FE and HE:
Joint Agreement on Guidance for Equality and Race Equality in Further Education (Word doc)
Partnership for Equality: Action for Higher Education (PDF).

NATFHE's guidance: NATFHE & Fascist Political Organisations (Word doc) may also be helpful.

Bargaining Tips for Branches
Winning the arguments for race equality (Word doc), written by NATFHE members at Sheffield College.

REPRESENTING MEMBERS

For cases where individual members have suffered discrimination NATFHE has issued detailed advice to branches: Handling Race Discrimination Claims (PDF file). It contains a useful checklist for branches and list of the time limits that cover union support and legal action. Branches should ensure any members who have experienced racial discrimination have access to this document.

We have also prepared a short leaflet: If you have suffered race discrimination (Word doc) to be given to any member who feels that they have experienced racial discrimination at work.

Where there are disagreements over representation, members should consult Conflict and Resolution (PDF file).

BLACK MEMBERS' NETWORKS

Developing Black Members’ Networks (PDF file), gives advice to members on launching networks in their own workplace.

RELIGION

Some forms of racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, overlap with religious discrimination. Since December 2003, it has been unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief in employment and vocational training. Our Model Policy on Culture, Religion & Belief (Word doc) is a policy for employers to respect the cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs of all employees.

Implementing the new Regulations against discrimination (PDF file). Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) guide on implementing the new equalities legislation in the areas of religion or belief and sexual orientation. It contains model policies and FAQ's. It is also available as a text file.

NATFHE and its Jewish members (Word doc) expresses NATFHE's hostility to all forms of racism and discrimination including anti-Semitism. It also gives advice on NATFHE branches on how to ensure that Jewish members feel welcome and supported within the union's structures.

LAW

See:
1976 Race Relations Act
2000 Race Relations Amendment Act

The implementation of the Race Relations Amendment Act is governed by a binding Statutory Code of Practice on the Duty to Promote Race Equality and a Guide for Further and Higher Education Institutions. These documents spell out the obligations facing employers, in terms of planning, monitoring and impact assessment.

NATFHE'S POLICIES

Conference resolutions from 2003 & 2004 on racism, asylum seekers and religion (Word doc).

General secretary's speech to Students United Against Racism, 8 Nov 2003 (Word doc).

Peter Jones' speech supporting NATFHE affiliation to UNITE Against Fascism (Word doc), 2004.

Learning through Diversity - Colleges and Universities After the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (PDF file), conference report, 2000.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Commission for Black Staff in FE reports & guides:
Challenging racism: further education leading the way (PDF file) - full report
An agenda for action (PDF file) - summary report
NATFHE response to the recommendations of the Commission for Black Staff in FE to trade unions (Word)
Race Equality in FE Colleges: Book Two - Retention & Progression (PDF file)
Race Equality in FE Colleges: Book Three - Staff Development (PDF file)

Anti-racist toolkit for higher education institutions DfES funded project based at University of Leeds.

Black Practitioners and Learners' Network (BPLN). Website for black learners, black practitioners and practitioners generally who work with black adults.

Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)

Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers 'myth busting' leaflet on asylum seekers

Equality and diversity monitoring in higher education institutions - a guide to good practice, published by HEFCE

HEFCE's Equality & Diversity web pages

Equality Challenge Unit

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Good Talking - the HE communicators equality and diversity toolkit issued by ECU and HEFC

Home Office community & race web pages

Institute of Race Relations

Mapping Equality and Diversity Initiatives in HE project. An HEFCE sponsored searchable database of HE initiatives related to equality and diversity.

The Monitoring Group Information for agencies working with victims of racial violence and harassment.

More useful links on Equality links and resources page

NATFHE toolkits provide advice for branches and links to other sources of information. Anyone seeking specific advice in respect of the issues covered by this toolkit should consult their branch officers in the first instance, who in turn may need to take advice from NATFHE regional officials. Important time limits often apply; for further information about these or if you are seeking to pursue a legal claim on the issues covered in this toolkit, you should not rely on the toolkit alone but should seek additional advice from the union.