Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the CSP has been working to support and protect members at work, including on issues related to equity, diversity and belonging.
What has CSP been doing nationally?
Since March 2020, we have used a range of national opportunities UK governments, NHS partnership structures, such as the NHS staff council Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group, and through our affiliation to the TUC, STUC, Wales TUC and Northern Ireland Congress of Trade Unions to pursue matters of equality and diversity related to coronavirus.
The CSP's CEO, Karen Middleton, alongside the leadership team and colleagues from across the CSP, have worked with members from the diversity networks to ensure their views are represented internally at the CSP and externally within wider organisations.
Key actions in 2020
- The wider political climate and structural racism around Covid-19, followed by the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 highlighted an urgent need to show solidarity with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) members and colleagues and for the CSP to take action against the evils of racism internationally, including in the UK. We issued an initial statement in response.
- In June 2020, following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the CSP committed to becoming an anti-racist organisation.
- Public Health England launched a national review of the effects of Covid-19 on BAME individuals, following representations from the TUC, among others, and two reports were published – read the CSP reactions here and here.
- NHS England, working with England’s Social Partnership Forum and its Workforce Issues Group, released updated guidance on risk assessments for workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, which includes the need to risk-assess any BAME and Disabled workers who are at a higher risk of catching the virus. An all-Wales tool was published, too.
- The CSP worked with other health unions to produce trade union principles on health and safety risk assessment and vulnerable workers, including BAME staff.
- The CSP Employment Relations and Union Services (ERUS) directorate delivered the first in a series of anti-racism training to all CSP workplace stewards and health and safety reps.
- The CSP compiled guidance for pregnant and vulnerable workers on how to work safely and protect themselves from infection while working during the pandemic.
- We submitted evidence to Parliament’s Women and Equalities Select Committee report 'Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact.'
2021 equity, diversity and belonging key moments
- The CSP has worked with CSP members, including members of the diversity networks, and staff to develop an equity, diversity and belonging strategy.
- You can read more about the ongoing work the CSP is undertaking to become an anti-racist organisation.
- In support of the wider work currently being carried out on the CSP’s equity, diversity and belonging strategy, we held a number of online events for CSP members and staff, including 'Beyond Allyship - a conversation for all.'
- The CSP has produced guidance for members suffering with Long Covid.
- The CSP introduced workplace equality reps to ensure your workplaces are more diverse and inclusive.
- The CSP training team created an online learning 'Moodle' course for CSP stewards to enable them to better understand equality law and legislation and how they can tackle discrimination at work.
- Claire Sullivan, Director of Employment Relations and Unions Services, delivered a session to the CSP diversity networks discussing workplace employment support and equality rights .
Covid-19 guidance and reports
An inquiry was launched by Public Health England into the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and report by PHE published upon which the CSP commented.
- Covid-19 related deaths by ethnic groups, Office of National Statistics
- NHS Employers – risk assessments for staff
- Taking care of your mental health
- Anti-racism at work – a collective struggle
- Why structural racism is putting Black, Asian and minority ethnic lives at risk
- CSP guide to looking after your mental health
- The impact of Covid-19 on women
- TUC guide – mental health and coronavirus.
- TUC guide – Protecting disabled people working from home
- The LGBT foundation – report on the impact of coronavirus and the LGBT+ community.
Domestic violence
Calls to domestic abuse lines more than doubled in the UK during lockdown. We also know that, tragically, three times as many women were killed by men in their own homes during lockdown.
- FLOWS | Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors - a team of experts from the family team at the Royal Courts of Justice Advice, working in partnership with Rights of Women. It is a network of trusted and fully vetted advisers which includes experienced solicitors and law clinics, citizen advice services, front-line professionals in women’s refuges, women’s organisations, and organisations that provide safe environments for domestic abuse survivors.
- The TUC guide to helping you spot the signs of domestic abuse.
CSP Members Benevolent Fund
If you are experiencing hardship, The CSP Members Benevolent Fund can help. It was set up in 1917 to support members experiencing financial difficulties.