- Conference
- 2009 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 12 September 2008
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the motion passed at National Black Members’ Conference in 2007 supporting calls for a Review Conference to follow up the UN World Conference Against Racism that took place in 2001.
Conference further notes that UNISON Black members are working with community – led groups like the Global Afrikan Congress (GAC) and have made positive links with UN representatives and staff who have been promoting this issue as well.
Conference welcomes the recent announcement that the UN will now hold a UN World Conference Against Racism Review in April 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Conference believes that UNISON must inform members about the benefits of this world conference and mobilise members and Black communities to empower them to become actively involved in the British planning and preparation for this conference.
Conference further believes that UNISON – as the largest self organised Black trade union group in Europe – has a critical role to play in shaping the evolution of the Durban Action Plan based on our experience or racism in the workplace and in society and should therefore actively participate in the UN World Conference Against Racism Review itself and promote its outcomes.
Conference instructs the National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC) to work with the National Executive Council (NEC) and its appropriate committees to:
1 Enable the participation of a UNISON delegation of Black members at this Conference and that the composition of such a delegation includes the NBMC Chair, vice chairs, cross-self organised group Black representatives and a least one Black lay member per region;
2.Liaise with Black members’ regional groups to raise their awareness of the opportunity to engage in the discussions and attend the conference;
3.Work with the GAC and similar bodies before and at the World Conference Against Racism Review to promote the needs of UNISON’s Black members and the wider Black community, and
4 Report back to UNISON members the findings and decisions of the Conference and devise a strategy to implement – where possible and practical – those decisions for the benefit of UNISON Black members and the wider Black community.