- Conference
- 2002 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 18 February 2002
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference expresses its deep concern that following the British National Party’s (BNP) best ever election result in Oldham at the last general election, the BNP has continued to win significant support in subsequent local elections in the North West.
Conference believes that the BNP is a nazi organisation, which stirs up race hatred as part of its long term aim of a totalitarian state in which all democratic rights including trade union organisation are denied. The BNP’s most infamous member David Copeland planted the bombs in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho, which killed three people. This means that the BNP cannot be treated as a respectable political party as the BBC is currently doing by regularly inviting BNP fuhrer Nick Griffin to appear on radio and television.
Conference condemns the actions of the police and local councils, such as Oldham and Burnley, in attempting to prevent anti-nazi campaigning, including banning anti-racist festivals supported by the TUC, while helping the BNP to hold a nazi festival in North Wales.
Conference condemns the statement made by Home Secretary, David Blunkett, blaming racism on ethnic minorities for their alleged failure to integrate. Statements such as this play into the hands of the BNP.
Conference believes that UNISON must initiate a serious national campaign to prevent the BNP following the electoral success of fellow nazis such as Haider in Austria and Fini in Italy and making an electoral breakthrough at the next general election.
Conference resolves to support broad-based community led campaigns to defeat the far right threat and urge the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and Welsh Trades Union Congress (WTUC) to mobilise for these campaigns and to affiliate accordingly.