MU delegates Katrina Lee and Matthew Hickman each moved one motion at STUC Black Workers' Conference 2024. Image credit: Satnam Ner.
The 28th Annual STUC Black Workers’ Conference took place once again at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel in Clydebank, where delegates Katrina Lee and Matthew Hickman each moved one motion.
Katrina Lee’s motion addressed the impact of recent Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) restrictions on creative workers, particularly those who are women or from marginalised communities.
Matthew Hickman called on Scottish Government to recognise the link between low income and low mental wellbeing, and to remove barriers to basic human rights for creative workers.
ULEZ policies disproportionately impact creative workers
Over the past 24 months, ULEZ restrictions have been introduced across many cities in Scotland. In the run-up to this, and since restrictions have come into force, creative workers have voiced concerns over their impact.
The Scottish approach to ULEZ disproportionately impacts workers in the arts, entertainment and hospitality sectors who may need to take vehicles into ULEZ zones.
Without adequate alternatives via public transport infrastructure, ULEZ coupled with extended parking restrictions make it more difficult for those who may face access and safety barriers, including people at risk of experiencing racism, ableism and gender-based violence.
"It's important to note that racially aggravated hate crimes are the most reported type of hate crime in Scotland, according to the EHRC in 2023," said Katrina in her speech.
People can end up spending over half their pay to travel short distances
In Glasgow, each time a non-compliant vehicle enters the ULEZ a £60 fine is triggered, and doubles on each subsequent breach by the same vehicle in the same LEZ, to a cap of £480 for cars.
These fines are to be issued on a per day basis – meaning if you travel into the zone in the evening for a gig, from which you leave in the early hours of the next day, you are liable to receive two fines.
"Public transport often isn't a viable option for many, as services stop running early, lack proper connections, and are currently plagued by unreliability and cancellations due to staffing shortages, particularly in the rail sector. For workers who finish late at night, taxi fares are extortionate, and people can end up spending over half their pay just to travel short distances, as fares are often hiked up overnight."
Many workers make unsafe journeys to avoid costly charges
The costly charges mean that workers try to park just outside of ULEZ zones, putting themselves at risk of threats to their personal safety and security.
“Some of these areas outside the city can be unsafe, particularly for women and those from marginalised communities,” commented Katrina.
“Drawing from my own experience as a young Asian woman walking around with an instrument and gig bag on my back, parking in these areas can pose serious safety risks. This issue only adds to the stress of working late at night, knowing that unsafe journeys are being made in an attempt to avoid costly ULEZ charges."
The motion called on the STUC Black Workers’ Committee to:
- Lobby Scottish Government to review ULEZ policies across Scotland’s major cities to assess the impact on different communities of creative workers.
- Consult with affiliated Trade Unions to find out how workers are being impacted.
- Lobby Scottish Government to implement better public transport infrastructure in major cities urgently.
Mental health amongst Black and Global Majority creative workers
The Musicians’ Census 2023 found that musicians from the Global Majority face financial barriers at higher rates than white counterparts. More than half of Global Majority respondents reported experiencing cost-related barriers to their career development, and there were higher rates of socio-economic discrimination, particularly amongst Black musicians.
The motion at STUC Black Workers’ Conference addressed this inequality and called on Scottish Government to support Creative Balance, a new research project exploring mental health and wellbeing for Global Majority creative workers.
The project’s initial research confirmed that barriers to meeting basic human rights (housing, poverty, low income) are a significant contributor to poor mental health amongst Black and Global Majority creatives.
One in five musicians from the Global Majority have a mental health condition
The Musicians’ Census Mental Health and Wellbeing report also draws connections between financial barriers and income and mental health and wellbeing, specifically low income and low mental wellbeing.
It also reports that musicians who have faced career barriers and/or discrimination experience low mental wellbeing at a higher rate than those who do not face barriers or discrimination.
The motion called on the STUC Black Workers’ Committee to:
- Lobby Scottish Government to adopt Universal Basic Income, to remove baseline financial barriers for creative workers.
- Support Creative Balance by sharing research participation call-outs with affiliates and raising awareness of this much-needed research.