Louise Nousratpour in Scarborough
Friday April 24, 2009
The Morning Star
DELEGATES at the TUC black workers conference in Scarborough were on Thursday called to organise against rising racism and fascism in the face of the worst economic crisis since the second world war.
Opening the three-day event, conference chairman Leslie Manasseh and guest speaker TUC president Shelia Bearcroft warned that black workers were disproportionately hit by the recession - both in terms of job losses and racial abuse at work and in society.
Those sections of the economy where Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) workers are over-represented - finance, retail, hospitality, etc - are worst hit by the crisis and consequent job losses, conference heard.
Mr Manasseh pointed to TUC findings last year that unemployment in black communities is still double that in white communities.
Black workers were also being denied promotion and access to training, he said, while suffering disproportionately from workplace bullying and unequal pay.
"In times of recession, black workers will not only be the first ones to lose their jobs, but workplace promotion will fall even lower and racism will flourish as the far-right will use the opportunity to scapegoat black communities," Mr Manasseh warned.
He stressed: "Now is the time to urge colleagues not just to pay their subs but get involved actively.
"Now is the time to make clear what we practically want to change, to organise ourselves and play an equal and leading role in our unions."
Ms Bearcroft, a former factory worker and shop steward, drew attention to far-right group BNP attempts to gain seats at the European Parliamentary elections in June and urged conference to make "special effort" to stop the fascists.
"If we can mobilise all union members and their families and friends to vote on June 4, the BNP will not stand a chance," she said.
"If the BNP wins seats in Europe," she warned, "it will have repercussions far beyond Britain as racist groups across Europe are seeking to create a far-right block in the European Parliament to advance their politics of hate."
Ms Bearcroft ended her address with a few apt words from her father, who was a miner in south Wales: "On this earth there is only one race - the human race."
Racism and the impact of the recession on black and ethnic minority workers are the two major issues being discussed in a series of motions over the weekend.
Unionisation to combat abuse?
Louise Nousratpour
Sunday March 15, 2009
The Morning Star
THE liveliest debate by far at this year's TUC women's conference was on prostitution.
Should the sex industry be decriminalised and "sex workers" unionised like staff in any other sector or should we recognise that prostitution constitutes violence against women and act accordingly?
The debate in Scarborough on Thursday polarised delegates, with a number of unions abstaining from voting on the two opposing motions on how best to reform prostitution laws.
In the end, those who argued that decriminalisation would legitimise the abuse that is inherent in prostitution and turn pimps into "a newly respectable class of sex businessmen" won the day.
Moving the motion against decriminalisation, University and College Union delegate Mary Davis made clear that "this is not a moral issue, but a women's rights issue."
She argued that to label prostitution as "work" would legitimise "the commodification of sex and the objectification of women's bodies. Decriminalisation would condone violence and abuse without addressing the underlying problems of poverty and organised crime.
"We must expose the social causes of prostitution and fight for higher wages and improved benefits to ensure no-one is desperate enough to turn to the sex industry."
The motion, titled the commodification of sex, called for Britain to adopt the approach pioneered by Sweden, which criminalises men who buy sex and decriminalises prostitutes and offers them social support to leave the industry.
Official figures show that prostitution numbers have dropped from 2,500 before the 1999 legislation to around 1,000 today.
Also, the number of people trafficked in Sweden is now between 400 to 600 a year, compared to 4,000 in neighbouring Denmark and Norway.
In Britain, some 85 per cent of an estimated 80,000 prostitutes are thought to be victims of trafficking.
But CWU delegate Tricia Clarke, who moved the motion on decriminalisation, rejected the Swedish model on the basis that it would drive prostitution underground and put women's safety at risk.
She urged conference to support the GMB union's campaign to unionise the sex industry as the best way to protect women.
"In a socialist society, where poverty and inequality are eliminated, women will not look to prostitution. But in the meantime, we must fight for sex workers' trade union rights and ensure that they can report sexual violence without fear of imprisonment or a criminal record," she added.
However, Unite delegate Tricia Lawton questioned the argument that unionisation would protect prostitutes from violence and abuse.
"How can unions protect women prostitutes from sexual abuse when it is part and parcel of their work?" she asked, adding: "Prostitutes need human rights, not union rights."
She also refuted the notion that decriminalisation was about respecting a woman's right to "choose" and would empower prostitutes.
"The industry is run by men for men and the pimps who make huge profits from this exploitation are the only ones truly in control," she said.
Sunday March 15, 2009
The Morning Star
THE liveliest debate by far at this year's TUC women's conference was on prostitution.
Should the sex industry be decriminalised and "sex workers" unionised like staff in any other sector or should we recognise that prostitution constitutes violence against women and act accordingly?
The debate in Scarborough on Thursday polarised delegates, with a number of unions abstaining from voting on the two opposing motions on how best to reform prostitution laws.
In the end, those who argued that decriminalisation would legitimise the abuse that is inherent in prostitution and turn pimps into "a newly respectable class of sex businessmen" won the day.
Moving the motion against decriminalisation, University and College Union delegate Mary Davis made clear that "this is not a moral issue, but a women's rights issue."
She argued that to label prostitution as "work" would legitimise "the commodification of sex and the objectification of women's bodies. Decriminalisation would condone violence and abuse without addressing the underlying problems of poverty and organised crime.
"We must expose the social causes of prostitution and fight for higher wages and improved benefits to ensure no-one is desperate enough to turn to the sex industry."
The motion, titled the commodification of sex, called for Britain to adopt the approach pioneered by Sweden, which criminalises men who buy sex and decriminalises prostitutes and offers them social support to leave the industry.
Official figures show that prostitution numbers have dropped from 2,500 before the 1999 legislation to around 1,000 today.
Also, the number of people trafficked in Sweden is now between 400 to 600 a year, compared to 4,000 in neighbouring Denmark and Norway.
In Britain, some 85 per cent of an estimated 80,000 prostitutes are thought to be victims of trafficking.
But CWU delegate Tricia Clarke, who moved the motion on decriminalisation, rejected the Swedish model on the basis that it would drive prostitution underground and put women's safety at risk.
She urged conference to support the GMB union's campaign to unionise the sex industry as the best way to protect women.
"In a socialist society, where poverty and inequality are eliminated, women will not look to prostitution. But in the meantime, we must fight for sex workers' trade union rights and ensure that they can report sexual violence without fear of imprisonment or a criminal record," she added.
However, Unite delegate Tricia Lawton questioned the argument that unionisation would protect prostitutes from violence and abuse.
"How can unions protect women prostitutes from sexual abuse when it is part and parcel of their work?" she asked, adding: "Prostitutes need human rights, not union rights."
She also refuted the notion that decriminalisation was about respecting a woman's right to "choose" and would empower prostitutes.
"The industry is run by men for men and the pimps who make huge profits from this exploitation are the only ones truly in control," she said.
Activist highlights Gaza's devastation
Louise Nousratpour
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
GAZAN human rights activist Mona El-Farra gave a heartbreaking account of the plight of her compatriots at a TUC women's conference meeting on Friday.
She reduced the audience to tears and even loud whimpering as she related stories about how she had witnessed mothers looking on in despair as their wounded child bled to death in their arms because the ambulance never arrived.
"I am a doctor and know that the Israeli military deliberately targets ambulances and hospitals, while checkpoints stop medical aid getting to those who need it," she said.
The recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip resulted in the death of 1,440 people, including 430 children, with thousands more wounded, orphaned, homeless and psychologically damaged.
Ms El-Farra said that figures obtained before the attacks showed that 65 per cent of Gazan children are suffering from post-traumatic disorder.
"Unemployment is 60 per cent and 38 per cent of Palestinian women of childbearing age suffer from malnutrition disorders," she highlighted.
"This is not about Israel's security. This amounts to a war crime."
Ms El-Farra welcomed the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza as a "great initiative," but stressed that political solidarity was the most important tool of empowering Palestinians to fight for independence.
"Palestinians, especially women and children, may be victims but they refuse to be victimised," she proudly declared.
"Women in particular are organising in the community and fight the occupation while still managing to keep a smile on their face. Those I talk to say they want peace but not without justice."
Lawyer and co-ordinator for International Solidarity with Thompsons Solicitors Karen Mitchell pointed to a raft of international laws that have repeatedly been breached by Israel.
She concluded: "Israel is guilty of war crimes and must be brought to justice."
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
GAZAN human rights activist Mona El-Farra gave a heartbreaking account of the plight of her compatriots at a TUC women's conference meeting on Friday.
She reduced the audience to tears and even loud whimpering as she related stories about how she had witnessed mothers looking on in despair as their wounded child bled to death in their arms because the ambulance never arrived.
"I am a doctor and know that the Israeli military deliberately targets ambulances and hospitals, while checkpoints stop medical aid getting to those who need it," she said.
The recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip resulted in the death of 1,440 people, including 430 children, with thousands more wounded, orphaned, homeless and psychologically damaged.
Ms El-Farra said that figures obtained before the attacks showed that 65 per cent of Gazan children are suffering from post-traumatic disorder.
"Unemployment is 60 per cent and 38 per cent of Palestinian women of childbearing age suffer from malnutrition disorders," she highlighted.
"This is not about Israel's security. This amounts to a war crime."
Ms El-Farra welcomed the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza as a "great initiative," but stressed that political solidarity was the most important tool of empowering Palestinians to fight for independence.
"Palestinians, especially women and children, may be victims but they refuse to be victimised," she proudly declared.
"Women in particular are organising in the community and fight the occupation while still managing to keep a smile on their face. Those I talk to say they want peace but not without justice."
Lawyer and co-ordinator for International Solidarity with Thompsons Solicitors Karen Mitchell pointed to a raft of international laws that have repeatedly been breached by Israel.
She concluded: "Israel is guilty of war crimes and must be brought to justice."
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