Black workers conference opens with calls to fight fascism

By Louise Nousratpour in Liverpool
Saturday April 24, 2010
The Morning Star

THE TUC black workers conference kicked off in Liverpool on Friday with debates ranging from the disproportionate impact of the recession on black and ethnic minorities to institutional racism and the rise of fascism.

In her opening remarks, conference chairwoman Collette Cork-Hurst urged delegates to encourage more black and ethnic minority workers to join unions and become "active participants" in the struggle against fascism and for equality.

She accused mainstream politicians of treating black and ethnic minority communities like "the enemy within," blaming them for everything from housing shortages and unemployment to crime and terrorism.

"The backdrop of this conference is the general election and once again black people are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons," she said, referring to the main parties' crude focus on immigration.

TUC deputy leader Francis O'Grady said that rather than pandering to the far right, politicians should address issues of unemployment and housing used by the BNP to gain support among impoverished white communities.

In her conference address, Ms O'Grady expressed fears that planned cuts to public spending would further increase racial tensions and have an undue effect on jobs and specialist services for black and ethnic minority people.

She condemned all main parties for seeking to make workers pay for the crisis "caused by the greed of white, male City bankers.

"The TUC has made a clear case for the Robin Hood tax - a 0.05 per cent average tax on banks - which could raise billions every year to build new homes, schools and hospitals."

During a debate on public spending cuts, delegates warned that black and ethnic minority workers were bearing the brunt of the recession.

A staggering 48 per cent of black people and 31 per cent of Asians aged 16 to 24 are currently unemployed, compared to 20 per cent of white youth.

PCS delegate Zita Holborne said: "If the main parties are serious about tackling inequality and protecting services, they should address the £200 billion tax avoidance, the £70 billion tax evaded by the wealthy, and close the pay gap between white and black workers.

"They should also take a hard-line approach to employers who breach race laws."

Ms O'Grady called on delegates to use their vote "wisely" in what she said was "perhaps the most important election in a generation."