This month, UNISON celebrates Black History Month – a time to celebrate how Black people and communities have shaped our history.

For UNISON, Black History Month is a time to acknowledge and celebrate achievements of Black people throughout history.

Black History and Black British History in particular, is often marginalised.

So Black History Month is a key time to acknowledge achievements and provide an opportunity to discuss wider issues affecting the Black community.

Black History Month is particularly poignant this year, as we reflect on the disproportionate number of Black lives lost during the pandemic.

Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary writes: “There is a new visibility to Black lives, but for the worst of reasons. So many Black lives have been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the reasons for this are complex, the main one is the ‘everyday’ racism deeply embedded across society.”

“Black workers have faced the highest levels of risk because they are over-represented in frontline, low-paid jobs. Jobs that have been traditionally undervalued or even invisible.”

If you want to find out more about getting involved as a Black member, take a look at UNISON’s Black members site, or contact our branch Equality Officer Ana Yousaf.