Actual events

• May 13, 2006
  Seminar EARN: Complained about racism at the workplace, what happens after that ... ?
  ... More information on the seminar.

• May 10, 2006
  Press conference - presentation of the report "What happens after having complained about racism at the workplace?
  ... Read the summary of the report.

  Who we are

  Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) one of the first black nationalists and pan-Africanist

  
  

  EARN (European Anti-Racism Network) is a working group of black and migrant trade unionists. The members are active trade unionists of the various trade unions of the FNV Federation. EARN pleads for the fight against (institutional) racism at the workplace.

  They want to give new impulse to the equal opportunities and the anti-racism policy within the Dutch Federation (FNV) and the different trade unions of the FNV Federation.

  The members of EARN are:
  

  • Nelson Cid Jara (FNV Bondgenoten)
  • Jerry Chintoe (Member Dutch Police Union - NPB)
  • Kenneth Cuvalay (ABVAKABO FNV)
  • Satyra ten Holt (ABVAKABO FNV)
  • Iwan Leeuwin (ABVAKABO FNV)
  • Günay Kokulu (ABVAKABO FNV)
  • Mohammed Mdaghri (General Education Union - AOb)
  • Rita Mungra (ABVAKABO FNV)
  • Herbert Römer (FNV Bondgenoten)
  • Farouq Tareen (ABVAKABO FNV)

  Kenneth Cuvalay is the co-ordinator of EARN.

  How we work

  Queen Nzingha (1583-1663) military strategist, charismatic (female) leader, freedom fighter against the Portuguese in Angola

  
  

  EARN wants to strengthen the position of black and migrant workers in companies and within the trade unions. They do this by stimulating the policy makers and administrators of equal opportunities and the anti-racism policy to benefit from the knowledge, the ideas and the experiences of black and migrant workers themselves. Too long it has been spoken about black and migrant workers without involving them.

  EARN is of the opinion that within companies and within trade unions there is still insufficient attention paid to the fight against institutional racism on the labour market. Research and policy notes are too often concentrating on closing the gaps on the labour market without considering the effects of institutional racism on the employment policy, chances for promotion, career expectations and teamwork at the work-place.

  EARN does plead for the development of instruments which black and migrant workers themselves can use to fight institutional racism and to evaluate and improve the equal opportunities policy.

  International co-operation

  The situation for black and migrant workers in The Netherlands is not unique. That is why EARN acts jointly with black and migrant employees and black and migrant trade unionists of other European countries. At the moment there is a strong co-operation with the Black Workers for Justice - Europe from Britain and a group of trade unionists of the French SUD Rail.

  TIE Netherlands is an organisation that aims to facilitate the exchange of information and experience in networks of employees of multinational cooperation’s and within trade union structures. TIE Netherlands supports the activities of EARN and other black and migrant trade unionists in Europe and the United States.

  Position within the union movement

  Martin Luther King (1929-1968)

  
  

  EARN is completely independent; she has no formal connection with the head office or the unions and does not receive subsidies or other financial support by them. EARN does not want to take over the work of the unions (because anti-racism policy is their responsibility), but they want to be a "bug in the fur".

  EARN organises own activities, but also discusses with policy makers of the unions and the head office in order to prepare joint activities. Every EARN-member has a seat in the board of her/his own union.

  EARN keeps in contact with the grass roots by publishing a news letter, this website, articles in different union journals, facilitating workshops and presentations, etc.

  Last modified: May 26, 2006

  
  
  
  

  EARN working group FNV unions