The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is urging the TUC support its call to eradicate systemic racism faced by global majority NHS staff at this weekend’s Trade Union Congress (TUC) Black Workers’ Conference.

The RCM’s motion shines a spotlight on the continued inequities faced by global majority staff, particularly those in ‘bank’ roles, who support the safe running of maternity services. Despite their crucial contributions, these staff remain significantly more likely to be subjected to formal disciplinary procedures.

According to the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) 46 percent of NHS trusts, global majority staff are more than 1.25 times more likely to face formal disciplinary action than white members of staff.

Lynn Collins, RCM Director of Representation and Organising, said:

“It’s unacceptable that Black, Asian and minority ethnic midwives, maternity support workers and NHS staff, in particular bank and agency staff are more likely to experience bullying at work, more likely to face disciplinary processes and less likely to advance in their careers. These unacceptable inequities must be tackled. Everyone has a role to play in rooting out racism within the NHS. We must do all we can to dismantle racism within the NHS, so whatever your race, skin colour, religion or ethnicity, all people are treated equally and respectfully.”

A recent RCM survey of Heads of Midwifery (HoMs) revealed that 87 percent of HoMS from across England rely on bank staff to maintain and operate safe maternity service staffing levels. The RCM says its ‘shocking’ to think that these midwives and maternity staff are among those NHS staff who are experiencing high levels of discrimination in the workplace.

The latest WRES report shows that global majority staff were more than three times as likely as white staff to enter formal disciplinary processes and the RCM’s motion calls on the TUC to support campaigns for non-discriminatory disciplinary processes across the NHS. In addition to calls that all line managers receive training on fair treatment and equality and a call for greater investment in the wellbeing and psychological safety of NHS staff.

Lynn added:

“This is not a new issue, but it is one that remains unresolved. We need meaningful engagement and change. Our NHS should be a place where all staff feel safe, supported and listened. Sadly, too often this is not always the case. We must strive to create an environment where midwives and all NHS staff feel then can speak up and call out racism without fear. The RCM has been supporting our members to Stand up For Higher Standards and to call out any racist behaviour they witness, but everyone across the health trade union movement, government and NHS bodies, including trusts and boards – has a part to play in tackling this.”

The TUC Black Workers Conference takes place from Friday 11 April to Sunday the 13 April and will be attended by RCM staff and RCM members. Moving the RCM’s motion on Saturday was RCM Activist Marie Creighton