CWU Black Workers Conference report

CWU BLACK WORKERS 2011 CONFERENCE REPORT

Introduction
The 12th motion based CWU Black Workers Conference took place at CWU HQ, 150 The Broadway, London SW19 on Saturday 26th February. Conference was attended by 93 delegates and visitors.

The Race Advisory Committee was represented by: Linda Roy (National Equality Officer); Greg Amissah (Chair); Colin Bell (vice Chair); Romanus Amaefile; Sylvia Beckett; Gurwinder Heer; Safdar Khan; Jitengra Makwana; Bola Omoyeni; Katrina Quirke (NEC); Winston Richards and Ian Taylor;

The General Secretary, Billy Hayes attended conference.

Greg Amissah, Chair opened Conference. Linda Roy (National Equality Officer) gave the opening address and Billy Hayes, General Secretary addressed Conference. Both the National Equality Officer and the General Secretary focused on the subject of multiculturalism.

Motions
16 motions were submitted to Conference including 2 emergencies. Motions 14 and E2 were not accepted onto the agenda.

Emergency 1 by Birmingham District Amal condemned George Osborne’s speech at Munich Security Council on 5th February 2011 which sought the end of multiculturalism. Conference agreed the speech had given unwanted support to right wing racist and fascist groups such as the EDL and National Front. Conference called on the RAC to liaise with the NEC and like minded political parties and organisations to confront the Tory Agenda attack on minority communities’ way of life. E1 was carried and was selected as one of the motions to go to CWU general conference.

Motion No. 1 by the Race Advisory Committee condemned the disproportionate cuts the budget will inflict on services for BEMs. Conference agreed to instruct the Equality Department to make representations with the NEC/General Secretary to urge the TUC and BAME Labour Party Group to explore the possibility of issuing action against the coalition government, in the same way as the Fawcett Society. Motion No. 1 was carried.

Motion No. 2 by South London, Surrey and North Hampshire is concerned that in previous economic depression BEMs and women are more likely to be the greatest causalities. Conference calls on NEC not to agree to any compulsory redundancies but instead should reinvigorate its efforts in eradicating all forms of inequality in the workplace. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 3 by Capital is concerned with the over-representation of BEMs in the mental health system. Conference called on the CWU to: continue its work to ensure BEMs receive appropriate care and support; ensure their work on mental health and the Equality Act 2010 reflects the specific issues facing our members and to challenge negative stereo-typing around mental health issues. The motion was carried

Motion No. 4 by Northamptonshire Amal recognises the rights laid down in the religion and belief regulations of 2003, which are now part of the Equality Act 2010. Conference instructs the RAC to make the necessary provisions to highlight this to make the national officers aware so that any problem areas are identified and remedied. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 5 by West London instructs the RAC to work with the NEC and other relevant advisory committees towards introducing a framework for positive action in line with Rule 2.1.5-2.1.6 so that the CWU is reflective of its members from branch to NEC level. The motion was carried and was the second motion chosen to go to Annual Conference.

Motion No. 6 by Central Counties and Thames Valley recognises that equality is enshrined in the union’s Rule Book, under rule 2. Conference calls on the RAC to work with the NEC and the Equality Officer to support the establishment of a working group tasked with exploring ways in which the union’s constitution be given prominence and emphasis with regards to equality. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 7 by the Race Advisory Committee acknowledges the difficult financial position facing the union. Conference agreed that any cost saving measures being made should be applied equally throughout the CWU structure. Conference instructs the Equal Opportunities Department to continue making the necessary representations to the SDGS to highlight this position. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 8 by the Race Advisory Committee welcomes the push by the Equality Department to strengthen the union’s commitment to equality. Conference called for assistance to be given to the Equality Officer to push the equality agenda forward by bringing in a robust form of monitoring at the point of entry for all new CWU members. In addition positive action mechanisms for existing members should be introduced on this issue. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 9 by Greater London Combined noted the role of the Advisory Committees is to advise the NEC and Industrial Executives on equality matters. Conference instructs the RAC to work with the NEC to ensure that before matters of equality policy including affiliation to organisations campaigning for equality are considered by the NEC, that the relevant Advisory Committees are consulted. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 10 by Central and West Lancs instructs the RAC to work with the NEC to put pressure on companies where we have members and union representation to prevent work being migrated to countries with known human rights abuses. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 11 by South East Wales Amal are appalled by the way the Moroccan workers and other workers are treated in Gibraltar. Conference instructs the RAC to liaise with the NEC to work with other like minded organisations through campaigns to highlight this appalling policy. The motion was carried.

Motion No. 12 by Birmingham, Black Country and Worcester called for the name of the conference to be changed to the Race Advisory Conference. The motion was withdrawn.

Motion No. 13 by Bristol and District Amal asked for regular feedback regarding motions carried at Black Workers Conference. The motion was not carried.

Motions to General Conference
Motions E1 and 5 were selected to go to CWU general conference.

Guest Speakers
Two guest speakers were invited to Conference: Lee Jasper, Black activist and Sadiq Khan, Labour MP and Shadow Justice Minister. In the end the only Guest Speaker on the day was Sadiq Khan.

Sadiq gave a brief outline of his family background and rise to the position of MP for Tooting and now Shadow Justice Minister. He spoke passionately of the help given him by the CWU and trade union movement.

It was obvious from what Sadiq said that he is a champion of the underdog who cared for his community. Workers in the local hospital, St. Georges in Tooting, the NHS, schools, and public services did not get their overnight, he said. Their legacy is something to be defended, he continued. Sadiq also admitted that his party did not get everything right whilst in office and there were many lessons to be learnt. Questions from delegates at Conference to Sadiq confirmed many still believe the Labour Party is better than the current coalition of Conservative and Liberals.

Bucket Collection
There was a bucket collection and raffle for the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) which raised over £280.

Conclusion
After the customary formalities, conference closed at 4.10 p.m. on Saturday 26th February 2011.

14th March 2011