Race & diversity in the workplace – The Bristol Bus Boycott and beyond
Last month, the West of England branch of the CIPD held an event at the VWV Bristol office, focused on race and diversity in the workplace. The key speaker was the exceptionally inspirational Julz Davis of Curiosity UnLtd, a ‘think-and-do tank’ who aim to “transform Bristol from the 7th worst into the best place to live in the UK for People of Colour”.
The event was themed around the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, which is regarded as one of the pivotal moment in the fight against racial discrimination in the UK. It began when local activists became aware that the Bristol Omnibus Company, a state-owned company, had a ‘colour bar’ in place which meant that the company refused to employ Black or Asian bus crews.
This led to a boycott of the bus company and a series of other protests, with support from the wider community and from the then Bristol Labour MP Tony Benn. The boycott gained significant attention, eventually forcing the bus company to reverse its policy, and highlighted the need for legislative change to address widespread racial inequality.
The protests played an influential role in the development of the Race Relations Act 1965, the first piece of legislation in the UK to address racial discrimination. While the Act initially only focused on discrimination in public spaces, it laid the groundwork for future legislation that would tackle racial inequality in more areas of society, including employment. The Race Relations Act 1968 would follow, extending protections to housing and employment, with both Acts sitting at the heart of The Equality Act 2010.
For employers today, the legacy of the Bristol Bus Boycott remains a crucial reminder of the importance of fostering inclusive workplaces. The world of employment has seen major advancements in ensuring fairness and equality since 1963, but there is still a great deal of work to be done.
On 10th October 2024, the new Government set out its ambitions in this area in the document “Next Steps to Make Work Pay”, which includes reference to the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. This is intended to include measures such as the right to equal pay for Black, Asian, and ethnic minority individuals, as well as disabled people. This would mean that equal pay claims on the basis of ethnicity or disability would be treated the same as those made by women, and that employers with more than 250 employees would be required to publish ethnicity and disability pay gap reports to reveal any disparities in wages between different groups.
You can find out more about the Bristol Bus Boycott 360 campaign here.
Practical tips for increasing race equality in the workplace
- Commit to Diversity Goals: Set clear, measurable diversity and inclusion goals, and regularly track progress to ensure accountability.
- Implement Bias Training: Provide training on unconscious bias and cultural competence for all employees, focusing on how biases can affect decision-making and workplace dynamics.
- Diversify Recruitment Channels: Expand recruitment efforts to include diverse job boards, community organisations, and colleges to attract a wider range of candidates.
- Improve Selection Practices: Use structured interviews and standardised evaluation criteria to minimise bias in the hiring process, ensuring all candidates are assessed fairly.
- Foster an Inclusive Culture: Promote an environment where all employees feel valued and included by celebrating diverse cultures and perspectives through events and initiatives.
- Provide Mentorship Opportunities: Establish mentorship programmes that connect employees from underrepresented backgrounds with senior leaders to support career development and growth.
- Regularly Review Policies: Evaluate and revise workplace policies to identify and eliminate practices that may unintentionally disadvantage employees from diverse racial backgrounds.
- Solicit Feedback and Act on It: Create channels for employees to share their experiences and suggestions regarding race equality, and actively implement changes based on their feedback.
