Report supplied by the Regional Equality Officer.
The Regional Equality Committee (REC) is due to meet on 1st December 2009.
Equality Monitoring Data.
As reported to the October Regional Committee (RC) within NW Jobcentre Plus reps have been actively pursuing the employer’s failure to provide TU side with equality monitoring data in relation to vacancy filling exercises.
We have explained that it is unacceptable for managers in the North West to state that they do not collate and hold such data. We have stated that they have a legal duty to obtain and analyse data in order to implement any changes to their procedures where discriminatory trends are identified. We also explained that there is a requirement to (equality) monitor all vacancy-filling exercises (not just recruitment and promotion) including preference exercises, selection exercises, transfers and use of temporary promotion).
JCP Regional Management was very reluctant to discuss these issues in an open employee relations forum and claimed not to understand the key issues. They offered to hold a separate meeting to discuss but have since advised that they need to check the policy and undertake research.
Clearly we will now have to give them the opportunity to respond prior to deciding on how to progress this fundamental equality matter.
Recommend: It would be helpful for other business unit trade union sides to advise the RC on what form of equality data is being shared with them.
Branch Equality Officer (BEO) Training.
I have had a meeting with the Equality Reps Project Officer and he advises that the PCS-specific BEO training course is due to be rolled out early in 2010. The intention is for this training to be modular-based in order that it can be adapted to an individual’s level of experience. To note.
National meeting of Regional Equality Reps.
The last meeting took place on 1st October and our Region was the only Region/nation to provide a written report on activities, and our report was well received. Main issues:
Equality reps.
The Group are in correspondence with DWP for more flexibility in reps training
EHRC report on Jobcentre Plus. The report found that JCP are failing to comply with their statutory duties. JCP to produce an action plan.
Equality Data.
The DWP has gathered and analysed equality monitoring data in the area of disciplinary action. The analysis demonstrates that ethnic minority staff are more than twice as likely to receive disciplinary action than white staff. Disabled staff are almost twice as likely to be dismissed as non-disabled staff. Ethnic minority staff are twice as likely to be dismissed as white staff.
Regional Equality Newsletter.
A holding newsletter was issued for the last quarter. The audience for the newsletter is reps rather than members.
