Our history

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) one of the first leaders of the abolitionist movement

The first ideas for a European Anti Racism Conference aroused among black and migrant trade unionists during a TIE-conference in Cologne (Germany) in March 2000. The initiative has been further discussed during the TUC Black Workers' Conference in England in April 2000. There, trade unionists from different trade unions throughout Europe discussed the necessity of such a conference.

During a preliminary meeting in Paris in October 2000 and after several interim contacts between different initiators it has been decided to discuss further particulars. It was during the same meeting that agreement was reached concerning the objective and the contents of the programme. However, the financing of the conference as a whole remained an unsolved problem. Without any success so far, all initiators have been lobbying within their trade unions in order to receive a financial contribution to the conference. Trade unions are reluctant to support initiatives of trade unionists. Besides, the subject of anti-racism is not very popular.

During a second preliminary meeting in Amsterdam in January 2001 the programme has been further completed. Further attempts were also made to find the funding . In order to facilitate the contacts in an efficient way it was agreed to install a reference group (of black and migrant unionists) in every country involved. These reference groups communicate with each other.

Goyathlay (alias Geronimo, 1829-1908) Apache resistance fighter against the forced living in the reservations

EARN is the reference group in the Netherlands. The British reference group organised itself within the Black Workers for Justice - Europe (BWJ-e). Members of the TUC Race Relations Committee (association for black and migrant members within the TUC Federation) are actively involved in this organisation. They are engaged in the spreading of information and the offering of support to black and migrant employees within Europe. In addition, they started to support trade unions in cases of race discrimination at the work place.

Eventually, the finances for the conference have been found, and the first European Anti-Racism Network Conference on November 1-2-3 2002 is a fact. During the conference will be discussed, among other things, how the European network of black workers is to be further developed.

EARN kaderwerkgroep FNV-bonden