UCU: Implementation of the public sector equality duty

Motion

Motion text: HE Conference welcomes the harmonisation and extension of the public Sector Equality Duty, which includes HE institutions, to cover sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

However, we are seriously concerned that the 'light touch' approach of the new Coalition government will make the Equality Duty meaningless. The policy fails to clarify the monitoring of equality. Instead, the Government's priority is to strip out what they claim are unnecessary processes.

Far from being unnecessary, Conference believes that equality is fundamental to all public services.

In monitoring LGBT equality, some employers will not have achieved a culture that supports staff to disclose information for monitoring purposes. This an indication of serious shortcomings in the organisation, not a reason to avoid monitoring.

Conference notes UCU's response to the Government's consultation, and we call on HEC to continue to press the EHRC for full implementation of the Equality Duty.