WORKING AGAINST RACISM

RMTnews :: june 2006 :: www.rmt.org.uk 22 Conference reflected on various activities to deal with the problems ethnic minorities face and delegates highlighted the contradictions that still exist within the trade union movement and at the workplace. Sofi Taylor introduced the theme of “Working Against Racism” and explained: “It is a theme that reminds us that we will not make progress or achieve change without being prepared to participate, being prepared to take action and being prepared to be involved and nobody here will be under any illusion that we have a lot to do”.* There were also contributions by TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber and TUC President Gloria Mills, the first Black woman to be elected to this position. Gloria has been active in the trade union movement for over two decades. She became the first black woman to be elected to the TUC's General Council in 1994. Her pioneering work on equal rights and race issues has helped shape the agendas, structure and culture of the trade union movement. She has worked hard to move equality from the margins to the mainstream of the trade union movement. COLOMBIA Colombian Trade Union activist Hernando Hernandez addressed conference, with details of the crimes committed against union leaders and activists by the Colombian authorities. He informed us that in the past 15 years more than four trade unionists e have been murdered on average every week in Colombia – around 3,500 people in total. Yet nobody has been arrested for these crimes against trade unions and its members. He said that even though everyone thinks of a drug war when they hear of Colombia, there were no drugs in Colombia when the war started. “The roots of the conflict are extreme social and economic inequalities with over 65 per cent of the population living in poverty,” he said. The conference business included 20 motions and all were dealt with in an atmosphere of cordiality and camaraderie. Workshops were also well organised and well-attended, but, just when they heat up it is time to stop. I hope that the planning committee will allow more time for them in future. CIVIL LIBERTIES A fringe organised by the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) warned that the government is trying to manipulate public fears to justify a perpetual state of war. This is done by redefining ‘terrorism’ in a broader way, blurring the distinction between anti-government protest and organised violence against civilians. This places entire communities under suspicion of terrorism by using intelligence obtained under torture abroad and waging psychological warfare through disinformation and mass-media scares about ‘Al Qaeda cells’. Anti-terror powers used to detain people (especially refugees) for suspected activities could just as well be handled under other laws. Damage to property, such as could happen during strike action, could potentially be covered under the prevention of terrorism act legitimate political activities are suppressed by banning of certain organisation including legitimate national liberation movements. The campaign is demanding the repeal of such laws: the Terrorism Act 2000, the Anti Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 introduced on the pretext of counter- terrorism. I have got the conference bug and will be looking forward following the progress of future Black Workers’ conference. However, RMT only had one delegate and I believe we are allowed at least four. RMT is a missing an opportunity to influence and be involved in redressing the racism that affects its members. *The full content of the speech can be found on the TUC web site at: www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-11743- f0.cfm RMT member Frank Murray reports from this year’s TUC Black Workers’ Conference in Eastbourne WORKING AGAINST RACISM