London,
20
May
2009
|
23:00
Europe/London

Hackney top in the country for employing ethnic minority senior management

HACKNEY holds pole position as the country’s top council for employing senior management staff from ethnic minorities for the second year running, according to a new report.

Over a quarter, or 27.7%, of Hackney Council’s top 5% earners are from ethnic minorities, the highest amount in England in a new survey from GMB union.

The Council runs a programme called Phoenix, to help existing staff from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and staff with disabilities, supporting them to gain management skills and qualifications. This has been very successful with more than 300 employees taking part so far since it was set up in 2000.

Cllr Karen Alcock, Deputy Mayor of Hackney, said: “As a borough with such a diverse population, our workforce should reflect the communities it serves, and we want this diversity to be present at all levels of the Council.

“However, there is still more work to be done in attracting more staff from all of Hackney s multitude of diverse communities to work for the Council.”

GMB used the most recent government information available from 149 councils in England, and debated the report at the union’s National Equality and Inclusion conference in Manchester on 21 and 22 May.

Kamaljeet Jandu, GMB National Equality and Inclusion Officer said: “GMB believes that employers should reflect the make up of local communities and travel to work areas in their workforces.

“GMB commend those local councils which have achieved this at the highest pay level in their organisations as a commitment to equality and real progress.

“There are lessons here for employers in the public and private sectors who have not acknowledged this and made progress. GMB believe that appointments and promotion should be based on merit to achieve this objective.”