- Conference
- 2023 National Black Members’ Conference
- Date
- 29 September 2022
- Decision
- Carried
National Black Members Conference notes that the war in Yemen is in its eighth year and continues to lead to an ongoing humanitarian disaster. We further note evidence of attacks upon trade unionists in Yemen. We believe that UNISON and other UK trade unions should respond to the crisis in Yemen with the same urgency as has been shown in the case of Ukraine.
In July 2021, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) called on the authorities in Yemen to cease interfering in trade union activities and to return properties that were owned by the General Federation of Yemeni Trade Unions (GFYTU) and had been confiscated. According to the ITUC, the Yemeni government had also been trying to set up organisations under its control, which purported to be trade unions, in an effort to weaken the GFYTU.
The ITUC further reaffirmed its support for international initiatives aimed at ending the war in Yemen and called on the parties to the conflict to respond positively to the calls and initiatives for dialogue, peace and a pathway out of the humanitarian emergency that existed – and still exists – in the country.
According to the United Nations, about 24 million Yemenis – 80 percent of the total population – need humanitarian assistance; 14.4 million Yemenis are in acute need. Over 2.25 million children under five years and more than a million pregnant and lactating women and girls are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2021. Between 5 and 15 percent of pregnant women and girls are facing obstetric complications but lack access to emergency obstetric and new-born care services. Around 16.2 million people were expected to be hungry in 2020. Five million people face emergency conditions, and nearly 50,000 are already experiencing catastrophic conditions.
This National Black Members Conference believes that UNISON should express solidarity with our fellow trade unionists in Yemen including those organised by the Yemeni affiliate of the Public Services International (PSI), the Public Service Union.
This Conference resolves to:
1)Refer this motion to the National Black Members Committee (NBMC) with a view to their encouraging other UNISON Black workers in the fight against war waged against Yemen;
2)Calls for the NBMC and the National Executive Council (NEC) through its various International Committees to try develop and implement a strategy that enables enable UNISON members and branches to express effective solidarity with Yemeni trade unionists, including twinning agreements and exploring the possibility of sending a delegation to Yemen and inviting a delegation of Yemeni comrades to visit the UK.