- Conference
- 2009 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 18 December 2008
- Decision
- Carried
Conference condemns the initiative of the British National Party who launched a campaign for “White History Month” in November 2008.
Conference believes that this new development highlights the need for UNISON to continue to campaign against the BNP and is therefore concerned to discover that motions passed at National Black Members Conference in 2008 have not been implemented.
In particular, Conference notes that the motion passed unanimously in 2008 calling for National Black Members Committee to work with Unite Against Fascism – a campaigning organisation that provides valuable resources, materials and activities directed at engaging and mobilising the Black community – has not been delivered.
Conference notes this is because requests for funding from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) have been repeatedly turned down by UNISON over the past year.
Conference notes this decision flies in the face of Black Members’ Conference policy and also National Delegate Conference policy.
Conference believes that the National Black Members’ Committee has taken up the issue on behalf of Black members at all appropriate forums within UNISON but this has still failed to produce any funding for UAF’s activities.
Conference believes that regardless of any funding from UNISON, the UAF has continued to fight racism and fascism by mobilising the Black community and UNISON’s Black members.
Conference further believes UNISON must take the fight against racism and fascism seriously, and that the participation of Black UNISON members must be integral to UNISON’s fight against the fascist BNP, the importance of which is underlined by the opportunistic and dishonest BNP campaign for a ‘White History Month”.
Conference calls upon UNISON to reaffirm its support for Black History Month.
Conference further demands the National Black Members’ Committee works with the NEC and the General Political Fund Committee as appropriate to:
1.Ensure respect for the decisions of National Black Members’ Conference;
2.Immediately look into why the Black Members’ Conference motion against the BNP was not implemented and publish the findings;
3.Apologise to Black members for the lack of action and consideration of Black members views on how to fight the racist and fascist BNP;
4.Develop a clear strategy to provide financial support for UAF’s campaigning activities against the BNP;
5.Support Unite Against Fascism initiatives in the year ahead, including UAF’s presence at the TUC Congress;
6.Develop a clear strategy that listens to and engages all sections of UNISON’s membership – including its Black members – in the fight against racism and fascism
7.Maintain a clear and unambiguous anti-racist message in UNISON’s fight against the BNP in the 2009 European elections.