The DWP Group have four advisory committees whose role it is to offer advice on issues affecting a particular group who share the same characteristics. They are the Group Women’s Advisory Committee (GWAC); the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender committee (LGBT) the Group Equality Committee (GEqC) and the Group Black Members Committee.
The Group revisited the equality and inclusion strategy 2013 and put forward motion A266 which was adopted at conference. The intention of the motion is to ensure that we are able to reach members and activists at all levels of the union. It aspires to reach more members, promoting and supporting activism in all regions by holding geographical equality events tailored to the particular demographics of the area and an overarching annual equality event for more experienced equality reps and activists.
Motion A266 also instructed the GEC to establish a Group Black Members Network. Prior to motion A266, seven members of the GBMC were elected by block vote at conference and seven by members attending the annual GBMC seminar. However, as numbers to this highly popular seminar were limited, this by default limited the numbers eligible to vote.
The Group Black Members network will empower more Black Members enabling them to elect the activists they feel will best represent them and to deal issues that may be peculiar to specific regions.
The GEC believe that this will help improve communications as we will be able to direct mail to network members about issues that may have a greater impact on a particular strand. It may also aid us in building stronger links to black members everywhere within the DWP group.
The National Union strategy to increase under-representation recognised six key indicators to build a union more representative of its membership. They are:
- Ensuring that under represented groups are able to participate in union activity
- Tackling under representation on decision making bodies
- Building networks and equality structures
- Representing members
- Progressing equality issues
- Reviewing and reporting on progress
The GEC believe the network will ensure that we are working towards the aims set out in the National Strategy and whilst it recognises that much good work has been done on making progress towards equality, there is still more to do.
Registration forms are available on request from the Branch office.
