Press report EARN conference

New International Anti Racism Network

7 November 2002

Black trade unionists of European unions unite

On November 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2002 the European Anti Racism Network (EARN) held an impressive conference in Egmond, the Netherlands. Black representatives of trade unions from the United Kingdom, Poland, France and the United States attended.

It is for the first time that black trade unionists from different European countries unite on this scale. This represents a reversal of the proportions within the trade union movement at the time. The conference was organised by and for black people with self-acquired funding. They do not longer accept that their own trade unions do barely take their interests into account: institutional racism in the working environment and on the labour market are fought only marginal or not at all. Black unionists do not have any fundamental saying in the policy making that concerns them. Furthermore, if black people stand up for their own interests there is little solidarity by the Dutch Federation (FNV) and the different trade unions of the FNV Federation. This is an attitude that is seen within other European trade unions as well.

The objective of the conference was therefore for black people to bundle their strengths on a European scale in order to fight for their rights and to claim equal opportunities on all levels within Europe.

More than sixty participants discussed with the panel on topics as institutional racism, racism in general, the role of legislation and codes of conduct, leadership and how black people in their different positions could be organised and mobilised on an international scale. It was concluded that with today's political climate the situation for black people deteriorated. Besides, after the events of September 11 the oppressing mechanisms became stronger and they are justified with terminology such as security and integration.

The various proposals and recommendations resulting from the workshops and meetings were indisputably approved by the panel and unanimously adopted by the public.

The most important decisions are:

• An International Anti Racism Network was set up that works as a network organisation for black trade unionists within the trade unions.

• For each country two candidates were chosen as representatives within this network. At least one of them is a woman.

• There will be a campaign for the inclusion of other countries in the network. For this task a working group has been appointed.

• A schedule will be prepared to intensify the contact with employees at the grass roots and the black community organisations in the different countries and to mobilise them. For this task another working group has been appointed.

• Within these activities specific attention will be paid to the gender perspective.

• Specific attention will also be paid to the consequences of the expansion of the European Union, especially what this means for the migrant employees within the EU.

• Reparation payments in the framework of the transatlantic slave trade issues (as discussed on the Durban and Barbados conferences) will be of high priority for the representatives of the countries present at the conference. From a black viewpoint joint tactics and strategies will be elaborated concerning reparations.

  A report of the conference will be published shortly on the EARN website: http://fnv.net/earn/. You can also request it via the e-mail address fnv_earn@hotmail.com or by phone +31(0)6-22231842.

  Notes

  1. 'Black' refers in this context not exclusively to the colour of the skin but to the perspective of all people who reject the existing power imbalance of ethnic, gender and class discrimination and those who want to dismantle the "equal opportunities" in the structures that are responsible for it by democratic means.

  2. The panel: Bob Purkiss (Chairman European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia), Roland Biosah (Black Workers For Justice Europe, United Kingdom), Barryl Biekman (chairwoman National Platform Dutch Slavery Past, chairwoman African European Womens movement Sophiedela), Herbert Römer (policy maker Dutch Federation FNV), Mamadou Ly (active member SUD Rail, Frankrijk) and Saladin Muhammad (chairman Black Workers For Justice, United States), Martha Otito Osamor (Transport and General Workers' Union, United Kingdom).

  3. The decision for an International Anti Racism Network is nurtured by the conviction that emancipation as a group process is only possible if the group manifests itself as a (physically) recognisable representative body within and (if necessary also outside) the effective structures that determine the distribution of knowledge, power and productive means.

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  NOTE FOR THE REDACTION
  If you have questions, please contact the EARN co-ordinator, Mr. Kenneth Cuvalay:
  Phone

  • +31(0)6-22231842 (office hours) and
  • +31(0)6-29014308 (weekends)
  E-mail fnv_earn@hotmail.com
  Website http://fnv.net/earn/

  
  
  
  

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