2013 National Black Members' Conference

Decisions


2013 NATIONAL BLACK MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE

RECORD OF DECISIONS

M1 / Black Self Organisation - Organising for the Future
M3 / Raising the profile of Black activists
M4 / Black Members Representation at UNISON Conferences
M5 / Black Members Representation at National Black Members Conference
M6 / Young Black Members at Conference
M7 / Promoting ‘There4You’ to Black Members
M8 / Effect of Government's Austerity Measures on Black People
M9 / Housing Benefit, Welfare Reform and BME Communities
M10 / Stop cuts to the Equality and Human Rights Commission
M11 / Support for the Justice for Christopher Alder Campaign
M12 / Justice for Jay Abatan
M13 / Kick It Out - Racism has no place in Football
M15 / Fighting the Far Right
M16 / Changes in Employment Law
M17 / Black Voter Registration
M18 / Black Men and Prostrate Cancer
M19 / Defining "Black"
M20 / Stop the Deportation of Overseas Students from the London Metropolitan University
M21 / Discrimination in the Workplace
M22 / Regional Race Action Plans
M23 / United Nations 2011 Inspection of Race Relations in the UK
M24 / Racism Isn't Being Tackled
M25 / What next for Equality and Human Rights?
M26 / The Black Experience - UNISON's Freedom of Information
M28 / Out Of Many We Are One - Hope for Real Independance and LGBT Equality in Jamaica
M29 / The Day of the Africa Child
M30 / Support Democracy Movement - To End Human Rights Abuse in Burma
M31 / Libya

Motions

1.Black Self Organisation - Organising for the Future

Carried as Amended: 1.1

In a time of significant change and massive upheaval in the public sector never has it been more important for Black members and workers to be organising for the future.

With the continued review of self-organisation and the interim report attached to the National Delegates report submitted in 2012, it was agreed that the work plan would concentrate on a number of work strands.

Conference also recognises that with trade union facility time being attacked; not all branches are moving forward with the equality agenda. What should we do to help branches to fulfil the above objective? As the tools we need are clearly laid out in various UNISON materials like the ‘Code of Good Branch Practice’ and ‘Equality in UNISON’; however we need a consistent approach to engaging with this initiative across regions and in branches. Such as encouraging regions to consider the provision of adequate resources and ring-fenced budgets (as in the North West Region) which have been effective in empowering members and allowing them the dignity and respect to campaign and fight in support of their issues in the ways they know best, whilst at all times continuing to meet UNISON’s four objectives.

It is the responsibility of the National Black Members Committee to drive the agenda on behalf of Black members to guide and support the objectives of the NEC in the future planning of Black self-organisation in UNISON.

Addressing the issues of the lack of opportunity and promotion in the workplace, mapping and recruiting Black members and setting up Black members Self-Organised groups as a crucial development strategy and implementation for the future survival of Black members in UNISON.

Conference calls on the NBMC to work with the NEC to:

  1. Promote and encourage regions to set up a training programme on Black Self-Organisation, similar to the Black members going to conference initiative rolled out to regions several years ago
  1. Ensure regions and branches are circulating information in articles like Black Action across branches to Black members and highlighting the Code of Good Branch Practice and the importance of resourcing Black members Self-Organised groups.
  1. Ensure regions and branches are adhering to UNISON’s proportionality and fair representation in all conference delegations as part of the equality agenda across all structure of UNISON.
  1. Monitor the impact any cuts in facility time are having on Branch Black Member Self-Organisation
  1. Engage in the review and production of the final report for the NDC in 2013 following the consultation with branches and regions by the Self-Organised Project Group.
  1. Report back on the initiative in point 1of the training programme through articles in Black Action, Regional Education and Training Programmes and the 2014 National Black Members Conference.

3.Raising the profile of Black activists

Carried

Conference notes the motions carried at 2009 Black Members’ Conference regarding raising the profile of Black activists and increasing the number of Black members involved at branch, regional and national levels within the union.

Conference also notes the Leadership School where activists can take steps to develop their leadership skills and take up positions of increased responsibility. Members who have attended this school have gone on to become branch secretaries and employed staff.

Conference calls on the National Black Members’ Committee to:

  1. Remind branches and members of the support and guidance available to Black members to become activists
  1. Work with the NEC to identify funding for joint initiatives, including advertising and young Black students' training days, with the NUS Black Students' Campaign to ensure that UNISON works with young Black students to encourage them to join UNISON and become active within its structures.
  1. Take other initiatives to reflect and encourage the diversity of UNISON Black members, including Black LGBT people, Black women and Black Disabled people.

4.Black Members Representation at UNISON Conferences

Carried as Amended: 4.1

Conference is concerned about the lack of visibility and representation of Black members at the National Delegate Conference and Service Group Conferences.

Each year delegates and visitors are required to complete the proportionality and fair representation forms at conference. However, the information does not appear to filter down to regions and branches with regards to the importance of Black representation at National and Service Group Conferences.

Various researches including UNISON’s research on the effects of the austerity measures on Black workers in 2012 have found that the budget cutbacks are having a disproportionate impact on Black members. Never has it been more important to ensure Black members are at the heart of helping to steer our union in a direction to ensure protection and representation for all.

Patterns of behaviour by branches are a real concern to Black members as we are clear that UNISON priority is to ensure that all of our work and resources are aimed at meeting the challenge of the governments pledge to massive cuts to public spending and an ideological commitment to cutting back the state.

Black members have a vital role to play and can only achieve this if they are organising along side colleagues and comrades in all structures of UNISON.

Conference calls on the National Black Members’ Committee to work with the NEC:

  1. To seek to ensure that branches and regions include Black representation in their delegations to UNISON national conferences specifically National Delegate Conference, Service Group and SOG Conferences by:
  1. Reviewing the system of registration using the Online Conference System (OCS) and seek to ensure that it is equipped with the mechanism to make sure branches include Black member(s) in their delegation in the same way as proportionality is a requirement and in compliance with the union rule provision in 2.12.3 on Fair Representation.
  1. Including a re-commitment of best practice in the review of self-organisation and to adhere to the Code of Good Branch Practice in supporting regions and branches in this process by giving guidance and clarity on this requirement.
  1. To seek to ensure by a system of monitoring and evaluation of OCS across the branches, that OCS is not used as a tool to inhibit democracy by altering the choice of status of attendance at conference, as has been brought to our attention.

Additionally, in the respect of disability that OCS when managed by branches does not discourage members from applying to attend, by the use of intrusive and personal questions about the “extra’s required” which in accordance with NEC guidance, UNISON willingly provides to assist participation of a maximum number of members to conference.

5.Black Members Representation at National Black Members Conference

Carried

Conference is concerned with the current Online Conference System (OCS) and the representation at the National Black Members Conference.

Black members are a disadvantage group and self-organised groups should be able to self-organise as currently stated in UNISON rules to meet and share their concerns and aspirations.

To work within a flexible structure to build confidence and encourage participation and provide opportunities for the fuller involvement of disadvantaged members.

Conference calls on the NBMC to:

1)Ensure that Black Members Representation at their National Black Members Conference for each Branch is a maximum of 6 members per branch.

2)Ensure proportionality and fair representation is adhered to by each branch.

3)Encourage branches to include a Low Paid Woman and Young member as part of their delegation.

4)Be implemented at the end of the 2013 conference.

6.Young Black Members at Conference

Carried

Conference believes that national Black members conference provides an excellent opportunity for young Black members to find out more about key issues for Black members; to acquire skills in public speaking and organising around debates; to see Black trade union role models in action; and to be inspired to grow as activists and leaders.

Conference notes the decision to extend the scheme of branch representation to require branches wishing to send 4 delegates, to include a young member in their delegation.

Conference recognises this may present some challenges initially, but is concerned that branches wishing to send 4 members should actively seek to find a young member to fill the 4th delegate position.

Conference also notes that this requirement has been in force for some years now for National Delegate Conference, which saw a significant increase in young member delegates from branches when it was introduced, and that number has been sustained.

Conference believes that while this measure should be helpful in increasing the number of young Black delegates to Black Members Conference, it is not only the responsibility of those branches sending 4 delegates to seek out and encourage young members to attend as delegates, but of all branches sending delegates.

Conference calls on the National Black Members Committee to:

1)Ask all branch Black Members Groups to identify young Black members in their branch and actively encourage representation on their delegation to Black members conference;

2)Seek to liaise with the National Young Members Forum about publicising the opportunities to attend the next Black Members Conference, and request the National Young Members Forum to use their communications networks to do the same;

3)Consider developing a mentoring programme for young Black members.

7.Promoting ‘There4You’ to Black Members

Carried

Conference notes that black unemployment is at unacceptable levels and particularly with 44% of the UK’s young black males unemployed (the Guardian, 5 March 2012). According to government statistics (Office for National Statistics), figures show almost 22% youth unemployment for the UK as a whole in March 2012.

‘What is clear is that this recession is hitting ethnic minorities disproportionately hard. And the figures can only get worse. Black people, particularly women, are more likely to work in the public sector. This is partly because in diverse inner-city areas the public sector is the biggest employer. But it is also because large public-sector organisations tend to have better, more transparent policies around equal opportunity. Yet the public sector is bearing the brunt of George Osborne's cuts.’ (Diane Abbott, MP)

‘Jobs have been cut and benefits have been reduced putting a strain on household budgets and finances. Members are feeling the impact on their household income.’ (UNISON website)

UNISON members can take advantage of confidential advice and support from its charity, ‘there4you’.

Members can make use of the following services:

• Financial assistance

• Debt advice

• Wellbeing breaks

• Support and information

This is a vital service available for members in these difficult times. With high loss of jobs and many black members affected by austerity measures from this coalition government, it is important to support members affected.

Two key facts to note about ‘there4you’ (from UNISON website):

a. Our members have been helped to deal with over £200million of unmanageable debt

b. In the last 10 years we have seen a 64% increase in our case-load and all the signs show that there is more to come

This motion calls on NMBC to:

1)Promote this key support service to black members

2)Monitor numbers of black members using the service and report findings in annual report to conference

3)Produce and provide black stewards and activists information to promote this service to black members.

8.Effect of Government's Austerity Measures on Black People

Carried

Conference deplores the devastating impact the Government’s austerity measures are having on Black communities and the most vulnerable groups in the society. Conference notes with concern the severity of this impact on people from the Black community. Research from the Institute for Public Policy and Research shows that unemployment levels for young Black people (age 16-24) is almost 48 per cent – among the highest rate of unemployment in living memory in the Britain. Cuts to education might be of long-term damage to a generation of young Black and gifted people. With the Education and Maintenance Allowance abolished, a huge increase in tuition fees, many of our Young Black people face a future that is harder than ever.

Black communities and young Black people are being pushed deeper into poverty, with fewer employment opportunities – with access to higher education and universities out of the reach for many.

Conference welcomes the UNISON research in 2011 to find out the actual impact of cuts on Black workers in local authorities in London and the West Midlands. Those Freedom of Information (FOI) requests monitors the number of Black staff that have been made redundant in the financial 2010/2011. This research conducted in London revealed that Black workers are being disproportionately selected for redundancy, confirming what we already know – that the Government’s austerity measures are not working.

Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2010 revealed that the proportion of Black people living in poverty is significantly higher than the national average. These are deeply worrying patterns and trends which need to be challenged.

Conference is deeply concerned that Black workers are likely to be worst affected as cuts to public pay, services and benefits take hold. Proportionately more Black people are employed in public services - approximately 40% are employed in the public sector compared to 25% of their white counterparts. Large numbers of Black workers are concentrated in lower paid jobs - characterised by temporary, agency, casual and part-time forms of employment.

Conference notes that racism is still in existence in our society and workplaces. The pervasive nature of racism continues to blight the employment and promotion prospects of Black people. This exacerbates the cycle of discrimination, disadvantage and deprivation which is compounded by the impact of Government cuts and austerity measures.

Conference also notes that during their 2011 inspection of the UK government the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN CERD) recommended that “notwithstanding the economic downturn, the State party should ensure that any austerity measures do not exacerbate the problem of racial discrimination and inequality. Impact assessments are necessary before adopting such measures to ensure that they are not differentially targeted or discriminatory to those vulnerable to racial discrimination”.

Conference calls on the National Black Members’ Committee to work with the NEC to:

1)Seek to ensure that branches use and promote the UNISON Guidance on Challenging Racism in the Workplace.

2)Seek that branches utilise the new resources produced on fighting cuts for example the UNISON Guidance for branches on Public Sector Equality Duties to negotiate improvements in equality at work.

3)Highlight the findings of the FOI research conducted in London and the West Midlands regions and seek to ensure that this research is done in other regions.

4)Consider how UN processes such as the CERD inspections can be used to fight proposed cuts.

5)Continue to raise the awareness of the effects of cuts in the Black community and specifically on young Black people.

9.Housing Benefit, Welfare Reform and BME Communities

Carried

Conference notes that the Tory Led Coalition is seeking to make major changes to the Welfare Benefit system and that these will have a direct and devastating impact on Black communities.

The key changes are:-

a. There will be a reduction in the amount of housing benefit awarded to social housing tenants of working age who are assessed to be living in a property that has too many bedrooms for the families housing needs