Lewisham Council signs anti-racism charter
The Anti-Racism Charter, drawn up by trade union Unison, is aimed at tackling racism in the public sector. It sets out a series of commitments for organisations to implement, including HR policies and processes; training for staff and actions for leaders to take.
Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres, said: “We’re proud to sign Unison’s anti-racism charter, which reflects our council’s values of inclusion and accountability.
“Lewisham is a proudly diverse borough, as is our workforce, and we have a long and distinguished history of standing up to racism and tackling inequality in all its forms. I’m pleased to put on record our commitment to being an anti-racist workplace and to work towards fulfilling the pledges it sets out.”
UNISON London regional secretary, Jo Galloway, said: “This is a significant step by Lewisham Council, which should help address any inequalities faced by staff at work.
“Racism has no place in public services. The union will continue working with the council to ensure these commitments are fully implemented.”
The Charter builds on work already happening across the organisation, and the Council looks forward to working with Unison to monitor progress against the full set of commitments.