- Conference
- 2016 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 24 September 2015
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference notes that in his acceptance speech, Jeremy Corbyn promised that the Labour Party, with him as leader, will reach out to everyone in this country and nobody would be left on the side.
The relationship between the Labour Party and Black communities needs to be a key focus of any and all steps taken to achieve the promise that has been made. The turnout among Black communities at election time remains low with many not even voting at the last general election. There is now an historic opportunity to address this situation
Recent Governments have failed to address the root causes of racism, hate crimes, Islamaphobia and the myths on Immigration. The rise of UKIP throughout the recent General election campaign gave rise to far right groups and served only to add legitimacy to openly racist views being expressed and the unrelenting scapegoating of Refugees and Asylum seekers.
There are lessons to be learned from our own past as well. The 1970s and 1980s saw political parties assuming a generalised approach to racism and discrimination. Black members were confronted with the reality that many in the organised labour movement did not take issues around race seriously and, in some cases, were confronted by so called ‘colour bars’ in many of our major trade unions.
We have come a long way since then and UNISON’s Black members have been at the forefront of ensuring that challenging racism and inequality is at the heart of every aspect of our union and is taken seriously.
It is clear that Jeremy Corbyn’s victory has energised the alienated. It has also alienated some in the establishment.
We must ensure that the Labour Party reaches out to our Black communities and does not fail us again.
We call on the relevant officers of the National Black Members Committee and/or relevant lay bodies to :
1)Work with and meet with national Labour Link to establish better links with the Black community.
2)The NBMC to meet with leading Black Labour party activists to ensure we build better links with the Black communities
3)Work on a motion to send to the Labour Party conference on reaching out to the Black communities.