A message from Maureen Scott-Douglas - Unite West Midlands Equalities Officer

My name is Maureen Scott-Douglas, the regional women’s and equalities officer for the West Midlands. I have been employed by Unite for 15 years and previously served the East Midlands in the same role. My role includes looking after and providing support for the equality committees. They are:

• The women’s committee,
• The lesbian gay bisexual and trans plus committee,
• The black and Asian ethnic minority committee
• The disabled members committee.

I am also responsible for the equality reps and have a role to support the branch equality officers. My aim is to drive the industrial agenda through equalities; whilst increasing the number of activists from the identified under-represented groups on all the formal Unite structures within the region.

Furthermore, I aim to develop the activists to become more involved politically and in their communities. I have set out a plan of what I want to achieve by the end of the year. Currently we have vacancies on most of our committees so are looking for reps to take up those positions.

I am also responsible for developing a program for the Unity over Division campaign within the region. With an aim to eliminate discriminative behaviour Including Islamophobia, racism, discrimination, and anti-Semitism in the workplace as well as society. As an equality officer I will work towards ensuring that the regions activists are reflective of our membership and communities.