Research reveals that black workers are much better off in the union

Unionised black and Asian workers covered by collective bargaining earn nearly a third more than their non-unionised counterparts, says a new TUC study.

Black, unionised and better paid reveals that black and Asian employees who are not covered by collective bargaining arrangements receive an average hourly rate of £6.77. But those who are covered receive £8.95 an hour - a union premium of £2.18 an hour or 32%. For white employees the collective bargaining premium is 78p an hour or 10%.

It also finds that the average hourly rate for black and Asian employees not covered by collective bargaining is 14% lower than their non-unionised white counterparts. However, collective bargaining sees black and Asian workers with an hourly rate that is actually 3% higher than the average hourly pay of white employees.

The report was launched at April's TUC black worker's conference and draws on evidence from the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics (LSE). The LSE research is based on the third quarter of the 1998 Labour Force Survey, and the 1998 Workplace Employment Relations Survey.

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "While union membership is clearly good for all workers, it is especially important for black and Asian workers. Joining the union and seeking recognition and partnership with employers is without doubt a vital way to challenge institutional racial discrimination.