Changing the face of UK employment
Changing the face of UK employment
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Asquith's campaign for equality in the workplace was instrumental in changing UK employment rights.
His battle against discrimination led to the establishment of the Commission for Racial Equality and the strengthening of the Race Relations Act in 1968 which made it illegal to refuse housing, employment or public services to people based on their ethnic background.
Origins
Origins
Asquith Camile Xavier was born on July 18th in Soufriere in the Caribbean island of Dominica, which at the time was a British colony.
In Dominica, Asquith worked as a police officer. But like many of the Windrush generation, he answered the call from the British government to migrate to the United Kingdom to help rebuild the country after WWII.
The government invited citizens from commonwealth countries to the UK to help fill labour shortages. Asquith boarded the TN. Ascania in the Dominican capital of Roseau and docked in Southampton in Hampshire on 16 April 1958.
London Chapter
Like many of the Dominican community, he settled in Paddington in West London.
He gained employment with British Railway, first as a porter before progressing to become a guard at Marylebone depot.
In 1966 aged 46, the Marylebone depot was closed, so he applied to transfer to London Euston station as a train guard.
The move to Euston station would have led to a pay increase of £10 to £50 a week
Opposition
Opposition
His application to become a train guard was rejected.
He received a letter from a staff committee at Euston station, made up of members of the National Union of Railwaymen that fundamentally explained that he was rejected exclusively because of his colour.
The unions and management had informally agreed that only white staff could come into contact with the public at the station.
People of colour could work as cleaners or laborers, but not as train guards or ticket collectors.
Undeterred
Undeterred
Asquith decided to campaign to end the racial discrimination practiced by British Railways. A year earlier the government had passed the Relatontions act, which made discrimination on the grounds of colour and race or ethnic or national origins unlawful in public places in Great Britain.
But, there was no legislation protecting workers from discrimination at the workplace.
A union official made the job rejection public by writing a letter of protest to the head of the National Union of Railwaymen. Two members of parliament wrote to the then secretary of state for transport, Barbara Castle, asking her to direct British Raliways to end the white only recruitment policy.
Barbara Castle, Secretary of State for Transport
Asquith Xavier & Phillip Howard, 15th August 1966
Breakthrough
Breakthrough
On 15 July 1966 British Railways announced that they would end the colour-bar at all London stations.
Asquith was offered a job as a train guard with backdated pay.
However, he was unable to immediately take up the role, due to the deterioration of his health. His victory came at a cost. He received hate mail from the public and requested police protection to and from work.
On 15 August 1966 Asquith began work as the first black train guard at London Euston station.
Personal Impact
In 1972, Asquith and his family moved from London to Chatham in Kent, where he commuted each day by train to work at Euston station. In the early 1970's his health continued to deteriorate.
On 18 June 1980 Asquith suffered a stroke and passed away aged 59.
Asquith’s journey was long omitted from history. In 2016, 50 years after his victory, Network Rail unveiled a plaque at Euston station in honour of his fight for justice.
In October 2020 the company unveiled a second plaque at Chatham station in Kent, dedicated to his fight against the colour-bar.
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