- Conference
- 2016 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 9 September 2015
- Decision
- Carried
Conference recognises that we are all aware of the impact that the vast changes to the welfare state brought about as a result of the continuing stringent austerity measures have had and will continue to have on Black workers and their families.
Conference notes that austerity has never in history provided sustained economic growth.
A government determined to reduce the country’s deficit are determined to make the poorest and most vulnerable pay. Black workers and communities are likely to be disproportionately affected.
The persistent attack on public services has further eroded equality and human rights for many across society particularly Black people, women and migrant workers.
In response to the financial crisis of 2007/08, successive U.K government have promoted cuts in public spending and the weakening of social protections.
The conference notes the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric and legislation both in the U.K and across Europe.
Millions of working peoples’ jobs have been affected. It is noticeable that this has led to a sustained attack on Black workers, particularly migrant workers. Rhetoric such as ‘British jobs for British workers’ has been counter-productive and divisive.
Five years of the coalition government and its austerity policies have rolled back equality successes of the previous Labour governments and workplace inequality has significantly increased.
In the 51st year of the Race Relations Act, the challenge of higher unemployment rates within the Black community remains unresolved. More and more Black workers and families rely on the safety net of the welfare state both as workers and as service users. The continuing austerity measure threaten to take that safety net away.
Research suggests that the current benefit cap hasn’t forced a large number of parents into work nor has it achieved fairness. As supreme court Judges noted earlier this year, the cap deprives children of the basic necessities of life in breach of international law.
Conference therefore calls on NBMC to:
1)Work with the NEC to ensure support for workers’ rights to claim benefits to which they are entitled without inhumane and degrading treatment.
2)Work with anti-racist organisations like Unite against Fascism, Hope not Hate, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants to build a response to anti-immigration arguments.
3)Positively and proactively support an all migrant workers’ network and where feasible engage in active campaigning for migrant workers’ rights.
4)Work with the NEC to develop a national strategy to beat the attacks Black workers, their families and communities face.
5)To renew our agenda to challenge the disproportionate and adverse impact of austerity on Black workers and their communities.