Can an independent Equalities Impact Assessment be the way out of the dispute between Tower Hamlets Council and its workforce? There are different views on whether women and minorities are worst off by the new terms and conditions.

What is an Equalities Impact Assessment?

10 years ago the Single Equalities Act was passed by Parliament, simplifying the law by bringing together all anti-discrimination laws and creating a public sector duty to tackle entrenched discrimination. The Public Sector Equality Duty, through an Equalities Impact Assessment.  The EqIA process aims to prevent discrimination against people who are categorised as being disadvantaged or vulnerable within society.  EqIAs are still popular as a means of ensuring that the public sector equality duty is met.

For example:

  • women;
  • black, Asian and ethnic-minority people;
  • young people and children;
  • older people;
  • disabled people;
  • Lesbian people, gay people, bisexual people and transsexual people; and
  • people from different faith groups.

Councils view on the dispute:

https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/News_events/2020/Jul_20/Council_services_prepared_for_Unison_strike_action.aspx

Unison view on the dispute:

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY • SUPPORT OUR STRIKE 3, 6 & 7 JULY • SHAME ON TOWER HAMLETS COUNCILThe long running contract…

Posted by Tower Hamlets Unison on Thursday, 25 June 2020

Guardian article on the strike:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/30/tower-hamlets-workers-to-strike-over-sack-and-rehire-plan