THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
In a very significant win for the UK’s anti-caste movement, UNISON – the UK’s largest union – took the lead in the UK trade union and labour movement at their 2025 Black Members conference, by debating and passing policy on caste and caste discrimination. Delegates representing over 185,000 Black, Asian and ethnic minority workers in the UK public sector signalled their determination to help protect workers and service-users from caste-based discrimination and to challenge caste discrimination and oppression more broadly.
On Sunday 11 May 2025, following a lively and passionate discussion, delegates voted overwhelmingly for UNISON’s Black members’ section to campaign for the Equality Act 2010 to be amended to make caste a protected characteristic, as well as raising the issue with the union’s National Labour Link Committee and with the Labour Party (UNISON is Labour’s largest affiliated organisation). On a more immediate practical level, the motion also agreed to work with the Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance (ACDA) to develop training for UNISON activists to increase understanding of caste and of caste discrimination and harassment.
It is fitting and positive that the organisation taking the lead on this in the UK labour movement is the largest organisation of Black and Asian workers in the country – and moreover in a union that organises in a number of sectors where caste discrimination is a live issue, including the NHS, education and other public services.
In thought-provoking, passionate and sometimes emotional speeches, delegates supporting the motion condemned the caste system, a social system of inherited status that assigns groups of humanity as inferior or even untouchables, also linking this to other forms of oppression and racism. Several also movingly discussed their own experiences of caste discrimination, including in the workplace.
Policy motions on caste discrimination are on the agenda again this year for the civil service union, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) Conference 20-22 May 2025 (see ‘Motions book’ for PCS delegates – Motion 77, pages 45-46); and UNISON’s National Delegate Conference 2025 17-20 June 2025 (see UNISON Final Agenda, Motion 62, pages 91-93). We are delighted union members, working with ACDA, are pro-actively organising to raise these crucial issues and for the labour movement to demand action from the Labour government.
Hetty Okonji, Bedfordshire Health UNISON, Eastern Region, said, “All forms of discrimination including caste system has no place in society. I am so glad that the motion was unanimously supported by delegates.”
Sudesh Rani Bedfordshire Health UNISON, Eastern Region, said “As someone who has experienced caste-based discrimination in the UK, I have raised this matter with
UNISON for a number of years. I’m thrilled Conference agreed the Motion ‘Ban Caste Discrimination.”
Santhosh Kumar, Young and LGBT+ Officer, Bedfordshire Health Branch UNISON, Eastern Region, said “Caste discrimination is a lived reality for many in the UK. I have personally faced exclusion and bias rooted in this out-dated and harmful system—even while serving on the frontlines during the pandemic. No one should feel unsafe or devalued because of who they are, or where they come from. UNISON must push for caste discrimination to be recognised under the Equality Act and made a protected characteristics and continue leading the fight against all forms of discrimination—visible or hidden.”
Joceyln Cruywagen, Lambeth UNISON, said, “No one should be discriminated against. Caste discrimination should be part of the Equality Act like all the 9 protected characteristics. Training for UNISON members is important to bring awareness.”
Santosh Dass, Chair, Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance who helped put together the policy passed at Black Members conference, said “This is a great result for those who are suffering caste discrimination and harassment in the UK. UNISON has heard their voice! We look forward to working with UNISON and developing training to help activists and members recognise of caste discrimination and harassment in practice.”
Sacha Ismail, a UNISON activist who also helped put together the policy passed at Black Members conference, said: “Having a Labour government is very far from a guarantee of progress on fighting caste discrimination, as on many issues. Workers need to organise both to win changes in the workplace and to demand action at a political and legislative level, and this vote by UNISON Black Members is a big step forward in doing that.”
Praveen Kolluguri, India Labour Solidarity, said, “We are very pleased that caste discrimination is now getting addressed as a workplace issue by the unions in the UK. No one should be discriminated at work. We hope this campaign leads to the legislation change we are looking for.”
