Scottish Union Raises Concerns Over Black and Ethnic Minority Workers’ Poverty Status
In a concerning trend, black and minority ethnic individuals in Scotland are facing a deepening crisis of poverty, according to the Retail trade union Usdaw. The union has highlighted the impact of structural racism and discrimination on these workers, exacerbated by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Usdaw has taken a proactive stance on this issue by sending a delegation of members, representatives, and officials to the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) annual Black Workers’ Conference in Glasgow. At the conference, the union has put forth motions aimed at addressing structural racism, inequality, and poverty, as well as the intersection of racism and sexual harassment faced by black women and girls.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw’s general secretary, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating, “Black and minority ethnic people are disproportionately falling faster and further below the poverty line in the cost of living crisis in Scotland.” He highlighted the stark reality that black workers in Scotland are more likely to be underpaid, employed in insecure work, and excluded from collective bargaining agreements, leading to a lack of desired working hours.
The data presented by the union also reveals that in addition to challenges in the labor market, black workers in Scotland face higher housing costs and limited support from social security. This disparity is further exacerbated by lower levels of wealth, savings, and income among black minority ethnic communities, resulting in poverty levels that are double the national average.
Usdaw is advocating for a comprehensive approach to address these systemic issues, calling for both short- and long-term measures to combat structural racism and discrimination in Scotland’s economy and society. The union aims to rally support at the conference to urge the Scottish Government to fulfill its commitment to reducing racial inequality as outlined in the Race Equality Framework for Scotland, and to create a labor market that offers equal opportunities for minority ethnic workers and a pathway out of poverty.