STANDING IN PRIDE AND POWER

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: jan/feb 2026 :: RMTnews 22 R MT’s Black & Ethnic Minority Members (B&EMM) advisory committee celebrated Black History month with an event in London called Standing in Pride and Power. Committee chair Wale Agunbiade said that the programme blended history, organising, and lived experience—underscoring how pride fuels collective power in the workplace and beyond. Speakers included Diane Abbott MP, RMT assistant general secretary John Leach, RMT national executive committee Lee Williams and committee members Harj Singh and Chris Hamblen. All speakers traced the roots of Black workers’ contribution to Britain, diagnosed present-day challenges and set out a collective strategy for the period ahead. Lee Williams framed pride as a source of power and he argued that Black workers’ presence has to translate into voice, agency and decision- making—breaking glass ceilings and changing the culture of our industries. “Justice, not revenge; confidence, not complacency, the task is to organise so that representation leads to real, measurable change in policies, promotions and protections,” he said. John Leach spoke about recent London Underground disputes in their real human context, stressing how many affected workers come from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and why union victories must deliver for everyone. “With a significant proportion of outsourced rail workers identifying as Black and ethnic minority, the fight against casualisation and fragmentation is inseparable from the fight for racial justice at work,” he said. As the UK’s first Black woman MP since 1987, Diane Abbott argued that modern Britain would not be where it is without the wealth extracted through slavery and empire and said that recognising that legacy was essential. She paid tribute to the post-war migrants—especially the Windrush generation— who faced harsh conditions yet helped build the public services we rely on. “Without migrants, Britain would not have the public sector it has today including the NHS and other services,” she said. Progress since the Second World War was real, with more MPs from diverse backgrounds and minority leaders in national politics, but she warned that the gains are uneven and fragile. Chris Hamblen offered a historical portrait of Black seafarers from the past, foregrounding stories of skill, bravery and contribution that were too often left out of narratives. Black workers have been central to maritime life for centuries—shaping ports, shipyards and trade—and that acknowledging this past strengthens our resolve to fight for justice. Harj Singh reflected on the role models who opened doors and the resilience required to keep them open. He underlined that racism can be systemic and must be challenged at every level, from policy to practice to culture. STANDING IN PRIDE AND POWER MP: Committee chair Wale Agunbiade with committee secretary Catia Efunsile and Diane Abbott MP for Hackney South