Nicola Sturgeon, MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well Being will present this year’s One Workplace Equality Award to recognise the role of Scottish trade union members in promoting equality in the workplace (15.45 hrs Monday 19th April) at the STUC Annual Congress in Dundee.
The recipient of the 2010 One Workplace Equality Award is Satnam Ner from Prospect. In his role as Branch Chair, Prospect, Rosyth Branch working at Babcock International Group, Satnam has ensured that the principles of equality are included in the union’s bargaining agenda and that management do not lose sight of these issues in all their policies and practices in the workplace.
He has ensured that his employer has adopted and implemented a proper equality policy, particularly addressing race equality issues where the proportion of black and ethnic minority workers is poorly represented in comparison with the recruitment pool.
Examples of recent progress that Satnam has made in this area is the Fair Treatment Policy which sets out how we intend to provide an inclusive workplace, free from all forms of unfair treatment and discrimination as well as how we ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
However, the focus of Satnam’s activities has undoubtedly been his work to promote equality in general but particularly race equality in Scotland. He has been elected to the STUC’s Black Workers Committee for 11 consecutive years and then subsequently onto the STUC General Council where he ensures that the work of the STUC encompasses promoting race equality specifically into all its work
The range of trade union activities that he has been involved in over the years continues to broaden – from equalities issues, health and safety, union learning and international development through to visiting secondary schools – teaching our future citizens about the principles, values and benefits of trade unionism.
Satnam’s tenacity and sheer hard work are a testament to his achievements not only for Prospect but for also for his community, black workers and the trade union movement in Scotland. He is a worthy recipient for this year’s One Workplace Equality Award.
Grahame Smith STUC General Secretary commented:
Satnam has made an exceptional impact on the trade union movement throughout his long service in positions in his union and more widely within the STUC. Hi active involvement in committees and other initiatives for the TUC, STUC and in his workplace, makes him an ideal candidate for this Award.
Satnam said:
“To be recognised with the One Workplace award for work that I have always been committed to doing is both a surprise and an honour. I hope that this award will encourage more trade unionists to take on the Equality Rep’s role so that they can work together, with their employers to continue making a difference. And making a difference to the fellow colleagues who you work alongside is what trade unionism is all about.”
ENDS
Notes for editors
For more information contact Zaffir Hakim, One Workplace Project Manager or Ann Henderson STUC Assistant Secretary 0141 337 8100.
Background on Satnam Ner: Born in India he settled in the UK when he was four years old and currently lives with his partner and four children in Dunfermline, Scotland. Satnam Works as a Health Physicist at Babcock International Group, Marine Division which has one of the largest engineering workforces in Scotland. He is also a Health and Safety and a Union Learning Rep in his workplace. Background on the OWER award
The ‘STUC One Workplace Equality Award’ highlights the work of the STUC’s ground breaking One Workplace Equal Rights Project which has supported trade unions in Scotland in promoting equal opportunities issues in the workplace by offering a range of resources and services to trade unions, employers and employee on promoting and bargaining for inclusive work practices. This includes training to establish 100 Equality Reps across Scotland in partnership with TUC Education in 2005-6 and producing a Bargaining for Equality toolkit for union reps to provide a practical guide to tackle discrimination, and inspire action to promote equality in the workplace.
One Workplace Website: www.oneworkplace.org.uk One Workplace is one of the major national projects supporting the Scottish Government’s One Scotland campaign www.infoscotland.com/noplace The STUC Union Rep Awards consist of three awards: the STUC One Workplace Equality Award; the STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning; and the STUC Health & Safety Award. The nomination process for the awards asks unions to identify union lay activists who have excelled in the promotion of the workplace learning agenda, equalities or health and safety within their union, workplace or community.
For further information on the STUC Union Rep Awards, contact the STUC on 0141 337 8100.