In line with International Day Against Racism, SIPTU has launched a number of anti-racism initiatives today.
The union will present its award under its Award Scheme for Diversity and Racial Harmony in the Workplacetoday. An individual SIPTU member, a branch or section committee that has made the most contribution to maintaining inter-racial and inter-cultural harmony in the workplace will be presented with the award of €1,000. The scheme also takes into account the integration of immigrant workers into the union and the workplace.
The union is also launching an anti-racism sticker and a Know Your Rights Cardto inform immigrant workers of their rights in the work place and to encourage them to join SIPTU.
In a separate move, the Garda Racial and Intercultural Office was launched by Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, today.
The launch also marks the appointment of Ethnic Liaison Officers in each Garda Division around the Republic and the launch of a Garda training video Challenge It.
The decision to establish a racial and intercultural office was taken following a conference entitled Intercultural Ireland - Identifying the Challenges for a Police Serviceheld in April 2000. The office became operational in March 2001 and is currently staffed by one sergeant and one garda everyday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Duties of the staff at the office will include responsibility for co-ordinating, monitoring and advising on all aspects of policing in the area of ethnic and cultural diversity.
As well as coinciding with International Day Against Racism, the initiative fall within the European Week Against Racism which ends on March 22nd.
