BIRMINGHAM COUNCIL TOP AND WORCESTERSHIRE BOTTOM OF REGIONAL LEAGUE FOR COUNCILS WITH % OF TOP 5% EARNERS FROM MINORITY ETHNIC COMMUNITIES

GMB calls for appointments and promotions to be based on merit to reflect make up of local travel to work areas

14.7% of the top 5% earners employed by Birmingham City Council in all services except education are from minority ethnic communities. This puts it at the top of the West Midlands league for councils for the % of top 5% earners from minority ethnic communities.

At the other end of this league is Worcestershire where 0.64% of the top 5% earners employed by Worcestershire Council in all services except education are from minority ethnic communities.

This new ranking by GMB comes from an analysis Best Value Performance Indicator 2006-07 recently published  by the Audit Commission for 150 Counties, Boroughs and Unitary Local Authorities in England. The figures for all 14 areas in the West Midlands are shown below.

At the top of the English league with % of top 5% earners from minority ethnic communities are Hackney, 30.02%; Lambeth, 24.50%; Waltham Forest, 22.50%; Croydon, 20.00 %; Ealing, 19.33 %; Camden, 18.87%; Greenwich, 18.72%; Haringey, 18.16%; Hillingdon, 18.08%; and Harrow, 17.46%. At the bottom of this English league are North East Lincolnshire, 0%; York, 0%; Isles of Scilly, 0% and Swindon, 0%.

Ranking of 14 councils in the West Midlands

Kameljeet Jandu who has recently taken up the post of GMB National Diversity and Equality Officer said “ GMB believes that employers should reflect the make up of local communities and travel to work areas in their workforces.

GMB commend those local councils who have achieved this at all levels in their organizations as a commitment to equality and real progress. There are lessons hers for employers in the public and private sectors who have not acknowledged this and made progress.