UK

Union warns Scottish black and ethnic minority workers 'falling below poverty line'
Jody Harrison
Thu 26 September 2024 

The STUC is meeting in Glasgow (Image: NQ)


Black and minority ethnic people are falling faster and further below the poverty line in Scotland, it has been warned.

Retail trade union Usdaw has said that workers from these backgrounds face structural racism and discrimination, exacerbated by the cost of living crisis.

The union has a delegation of members, reps and officials attending the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) annual Black Workers’ Conference in Glasgow this weekend.


The union has submitted motions on tackling structural racism, inequality and poverty, along with addressing the combination of racism and sexual harassment Black women and girls experience.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary said: “Black and minority ethnic people are disproportionately falling faster and further below the poverty line in the cost of living crisis in Scotland.

“The labour market in Scotland – as elsewhere – remains stacked against Black workers. If you’re a Black worker in Scotland, you are more likely to be paid less and be in insecure work on the margins of the economy, and less likely to be covered by collective bargaining agreements and to not get the working hours you want.”

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The union claims the data also shows that in addition to inequality in the labour market, Black workers face higher housing costs and are less likely to be supported by social security.

Black workers also have less wealth, savings and income - meaning poverty levels for people in Black minority ethnic communities in Scotland are double the national average.

Mr Lillis added: “A wide range of short- and longer-term measures need to be adopted to tackle structural racism and discrimination in Scotland’s economy and society.”

The union will call on the conference to pressure the Scottish Government to stand by its commitment to reduce racial inequality, as set out in the Race Equality Framework for Scotland, and bring greater create a labour market that offers equal opportunities for minority ethnic workers and offers a route out of poverty.