In his recent response to attempts from employees to ask him to take responsibility for the issues within Waterstones to ensure the welfare of BAME employees, James Daunt failed to note many of the large institutional changes that need to happen to ensure the wellbeing of BAME within the company. He failed to:

• Take personal responsibility for the white supremacy present within the company particularly in racial disparities in senior staff etc.
• Address the racism present within UK power structures, including large businesses such as Waterstones.
• Address the lack of opportunity for staff to voice concerns of abuse and harassment, particularly in the new whistleblowing policy, which is explicitly omitted. 

In fact, the emphasis on the importance of books and recommended titles within his internal statement shows just how much the company relies on empty gestures. It is a fact that in the last five days, alongside a rise in  Waterstones has marketed and profited off the rise of Black authors, and despite this, states: "With the best will in the world, we are not in a position to make a charitable donation at present, however much we would like to do so."

We believe that more can be done than pithy statements of good intent. More needs to be done for BAME employees. Sign to let James Daunt know that words aren't enough, and action needs to be taken.