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Devastating impact
A campaign to stop lethal cuts to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been launched by Unite and the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS).
Last autumn the Tories announced that the EHRC’s budget will be slashed by 25 percent over the next four years, meaning the organisation will not be able to carry out its duties of holding the government to account on equality and human rights.
The commission, which advises public services such as the police on how to stop racism and supports victims of discrimination at work, has already suffered a 69 percent drop in finances – from £70m to £22m – since the Tories came to power in 2010.
Unite national officer for equalities Siobhan Endean warned that further attacks on the commission would cost jobs and render it “unable to stand up for justice, dignity, quality, human rights and a fairer society.”
“We believe that these proposals will massively set back the progress in equality and human rights that this country has made in recent decades and will further undermine this small but vital agency, and it’s not just the workers who will be affected by these cuts,” Endean said.
“There will also be a devastating impact on the vital services that the Commission provides. The impact will be felt widely, particularly by victims of discrimination or human rights abuses who don’t qualify for legal aid, can’t afford tribunal fees, aren’t a member of a trade union, and whose local law centre or CAB has closed.”
The EHRC’s own internal consultation found that a further 25 percent budget reduction will lead to the immediate loss of 26 jobs, the unwelcome possibility of compulsory redundancies and the closure of EHRC offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
The cuts will also mean that just three case workers will be left to support discrimination victims, only four will be available to answer public enquiries on equality in the workplace and just a single person will remain to liaise with parliament.
In addition there will be a reduction in the number of staff supporting the statutory disability committee and the disability programme of work. This is the team responsible for responding to the recommendations made in the House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability, which investigated the act’s impact on disabled people.
Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, PCS head of political campaigns and equality, said: “These relentless Tory attacks on the EHRC, as part of their vicious and needless austerity agenda, affect us all and if not successfully defeated will have a terrible impact on society now and for future generations.
“The UK should have the values of fairness and respect at its core, but they are seriously undermined by this government. They are intent on destroying the very fabric of human rights and equality legislation that underpins our society, as well as removing vital resources for people when they need them most.”
Unite are calling for compulsory redundancies to be ruled out, increased employee protections, the retention of satellite offices, extra training for EHRC staff in order to decrease outsourcing and the enhancement and protection of frontline services.
