The STUC Black Workers’ Conference celebrates the achievements of Black, Asian and ethnic minority trade unionists in Scotland. It also provides a platform to build on and share organising and campaigning skills and experience through a variety of engaging workshops and special sessions.
The conference is one of five of the STUC Equality Conferences that take place annually. In addition to motion debates and discussion, the STUC Black Workers’ Conference consists of a wide range of workshops, panel sessions, guest speakers, and networking and social opportunities.
“With 43% of pharmacists from a BAME background, it is vital that the voice of this collective is not only given a platform but also clearly heard and represented whenever decisions around the workplace are made,” said Community Pharmacist, Urvi Vora.
Urvi continued “However, if this 43% isn’t fairly included across senior leadership (or in the boards and societies that represent pharmacists); it becomes very difficult to ensure that not only is this voice heard but also integrated into the decision-making process to prevent alienation and discrimination of these individuals. The importance of this is further highlighted in a recent PDA survey where over 40% of respondents said that they didn’t feel their employer engages with all staff members to improve ethnic representation at work.
It is a privilege to represent BAME pharmacists for the PDA and raise their voices. I hope by taking part in these conversations we not only start narrowing the gap that allows institutional racism and colonial behaviour to seep through into our workplaces but also encourage other BAME pharmacists to step forward and share their experiences in a safe space. Creating these spaces is imperative in us not only decolonising ourselves but also moving from an ‘us and them’ mentality to one in which ‘we’ collaborate to solve our issues together.”
Earlier this year the PDA presented an anti-racist motion at the STUC Congress. Congress welcomed the initiative and encouraged all members and affiliates to create anti-racist workplaces across Scotland.
Learn more
- PDA presents anti-racist motion at STUC Congress
- PDA joins the STUC Anti Racism March & Rally
- PDA to present its first ever motion at STUC Annual Congress
- STUC Black Workers’ Committee
Get involved
- Follow the PDA BAME Network on social media using the hashtag #PDAbame
- For more information about the PDA BAME Network, click here.
- If you would like to get involved with the network and its activities, email bame@the-pda.org
- Join the PDA BAME Network here.
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.