General Council Meetings - The STUC

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50 General Seat Satnam Ner, Prospect Woman’s Seat Georgia Cruickshank, GMB: Scotland Conference elected the following to the Black Workers’ Conference Delegation to 2008 STUC Annual Congress: Georgia Cruickshank, GMB: Scotland Ismail Donmez, Unison: Scotland Satnam Ner, Prospect BLACK WORKERS’ COMMITTEE PRIORITIES 2007/08 The priorities of the Committee for its work plan were agreed following discussions on the Conference resolutions, consideration of ongoing work, and taking into account General Council priorities, in particular the Unions Work Campaign. The key priorities for 2007/08 for the Committee are: ● Tackling racism in the workplace and supporting Black workers; ● Increasing the active and meaningful participation of Black people; and ● Tackling racism in society and promoting intercommunity engagement. Tackling Racism in the Workplace and Supporting Black Workers The Committee has an important role in supporting Black workers across Scotland and in promoting trade unionism to Black workers, and in ensuring trade unions are accessible to Black people. The Committee continues to take forward substantial work in tackling racism in the workplace and in promoting equality. One Workplace Equal Rights Over the past year, the Committee has continued to input into the development and activity of the One Workplace Equal Rights Project, ensuring there is a strong race perspective. Members of the Committee have participated in the Project Advisory Group, inputted into Project activities, such as the DVD, supported the 30 October 2007 Dissemination Conference, and have been involved in the development of the One Workplace Equality Rep Award. The 2006–7 Chair of the Committee, Habib Hashmi, provided commentary for the Project’s “One for All?” DVD, and all members of the Committee have been actively promoting and disseminating this work. Committee member, Satnam Ner, is participating in this year’s Advisory Group for the Equality Rep Award. Project Manager, Zaffir Hakim, provides regular updates and contributions to Black Workers’ Committee meetings, giving the Committee an additional opportunity to input into the Project activity. Black and Minority Ethnic Women at Work The Committee was represented on the Advisory Group for the Equal Opportunities Commission’s (EOC) General Formal Investigation on pay and progression of Black and minority ethnic (BME) women in Scotland. This investigation aimed to give Visible Minority Ethnic (VME) women in Scotland a voice on the issue of employment and labour market policy and practice. The final report made recommendations on joining up race and gender strategies, on improving intelligence and data, so as strategies to address inequality can be developed, improving support mechanisms, and on tackling a workplace culture which discourages and excludes VME women. The STUC has ensured the final report has been circulated widely within the trade union movement. Former Committee member, Anita Shelton, along with the Secretary, represented the STUC on this body which reported in May 2007. The Steering Group will reconvene for an update on implementing its recommendations on 31 March 2008, and the Black Workers’ Committee intends to raise a number of these matters at its forthcoming meeting with the Communities Minister, Stewart Maxwell MSP. Scottish Executive Race Equality Strategy Given the extensive involvement of the Committee in 2006 in the previous administration’s short life strategic group to look at ethnic minorities and the labour market, the Committee has, over the past year, been pursuing the Scottish Executive and now Scottish Government on when the conclusions, and the Race Equality Strategy will be launched. The change in Administration has no doubt affected the publication of the report and the wider Race Equality Strategy. The General Council raised this issue with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, in September 2007; and the Communities Minister, Stewart Maxwell MSP, has agreed to a meeting with the Committee and this will be one of the agenda items. The STUC will continue to pursue the new Scottish Government on race equality issues, ensuring it develops and implements policy which do make a meaningful difference to the lives of Black people in Scotland. The Committee has continued to engage with the Scottish Government on its One Scotland Anti Racism Campaign. In February 2008, the Committee responded to a consultation on the initiative, where it called for the continuation of a strong, public Anti Racism Campaign; and the Secretariat participated in publicity to support the One Scotland Rock Against Racism initiative. Black Workers’ Network The development of the Black Workers’ Network remains an important part of the Committee’s work. The Network is open to all Black workers, whether union members or not, and is key to ensuring those from Black and minority ethnic groups are not isolated and can gain solidarity, advice and support from other Black workers. A very well SCOTTISH TRADES UNION CONGRESS
attended Network meeting took place at the STUC Centre on Saturday 8 September, where the agenda included mobilising for the Annual St Andrew’s Day Anti Racism March and Rally and a discussion on recent equality development, including the opening of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, and the Discrimination Law Review Green Paper. A further meeting was held on Saturday 1 March at the STUC, where participants were pleased to welcome Osama Saeed of the Muslim Council of Scotland, to discuss a range of issues with the Network. Liaison with the Commission for Racial Equality – Supporting Best Practice The Secretariat participated in a Commission for Racial Equality roundtable meeting in September 2007, which considered the future for race equality in Scotland post- CRE. The Black Workers’ Committee’s continued concerns on compliance with the Race Relations Amendment Act resulted in the Committee’s involvement in the STUC training Conference on the Public Sector Equality Duties, chaired by Committee Chair, Habib Hashmi, on 29 August 2007. The Committee intends to pursue its concerns on the RRA at its meeting with Stewart Maxwell MSP later this year. Black Workers’ Newsletter The Committee compiled and distributed a newsletter in June 2007 as a way of communicating with Black workers between Conference and Network meetings, and to inform people of the activity of the Committee. The Chair, Habib Hashmi, provided an introduction, and the newsletter promoted future events, including the Conference, Network meeting and St Andrew’s Day, along with informing of past events, such as the election hustings. A further newsletter was produced and distributed in February 2007, which reported on recent events, promoted the Network meeting, Black Network Visitors’ Day at Congress and other events. Increasing the Active and Meaningful Participation of Black People Promoting positive images of Black people and Black workers remains an important part of the work of the Committee. Committee member, Satnam Ner, is participating in the STUC’s Schools Visits Pilot, helping to promote positive images of Black people, along with race equality issues in education. Black People in Political Life The Committee remains extremely concerned over the lack of BME representation in public and political life. The Committee monitored progress with Black candidates in the run up to the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections, and held a successful Hustings event on 24 April 2007, to promote Black candidates and to debate issues of importance to Black people in GENERAL COUNCIL REPORT 2008 Scotland. The mainstream political parties were represented at the debate by the following candidates: Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour Party Glasgow List; Chris Stephens, Scottish National Party Candidate in Glasgow Pollock; Davena Rankin, Scottish Conservative Party in Glasgow South; Rosemary Burnett, Scottish Green Party Glasgow List Candidate; and Abdul Khan, Scottish Liberal Democrats Council Candidate in Glasgow. Whilst none of those participating in the hustings were elected to the Scottish Parliament or Local Government, the Committee has welcomed the election of the first Asian MSP, Bashir Ahmed. Mr Ahmed also addressed the Black Workers’ Conference in October. The Black Workers’ Committee participated in events around Scottish Parliament Trade Union Week in January 2008, and some of its concerns on representation were articulated in the STUC response to the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland consultation in March 2008. Challenging Racism in Society and Promoting Inter-Community Engagement Standing Up To Racism The Black Workers’ Committee continues to inform the STUC’s strategy in tackling racism in society. The STUC takes a leading role in challenging racism and fascism wherever and whenever it occurs. The St Andrew’s Day Anti Racism event is an important activity for the Committee and it carried out considerable work and mobilisation in planning and taking forward arrangements for 2007. Working with the Secretariat and General Council, it evaluated the outcomes of 2007 and is in the process of organising for St Andrew’s Day 2008, Saturday 29 November 2008. In the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections, the Committee was alert to the threat of the BNP and fascist elements. The STUC promoted and attended Searchlight’s ‘Hope not Hate’ tour in Glasgow on 6 April, and the Secretariat chaired Unite Against Fascism’s mobilising meeting the following week, bringing together political parties, human rights’ activists, trade unions, students, faith groups and prominent anti racist campaigners to warn of the dangers of the fascist BNP. A particular concern was the fact that the BNP fielded candidates in every regional list area, which entitled them to an election broadcast. A swiftly convened demonstration outside BBC Scotland’s Queen Margaret Drive Headquarters on Friday 13 April, at which the STUC spoke, ensured BBC managers were in no doubt at the strength of feeling against their decision to broadcast the BNP election film. The STUC, UAF and the NUS, along with MSPs Sandra White and Pauline McNeill, were invited in to speak directly with BBC managers about the matter. The availability of Unite Against Fascism leaflets at STUC Congress, along with campaign materials from UNISON, all assisted in getting the message to voters that the BNP are racist thugs and their politics must never be legitimised at the ballot box. The Committee is now 51
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Page 71 and 72: Appendix Obituary Graham Arbuckle R
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General Council Meetings - The STUC

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