STUC Black Workers Conference Condemns James
Watson's Racist Comments
By Sofi Taylor NEC
STUC Black Workers Committee moved
a statement on behalf of the delegates from
various trade unions to condemn the racist comments
made by the eminent DNA scientist James Watson.
The statement was moved by Habib
Hashmi of EIS, who chaired the 11th STUC Black
Workers Conference on 20-21st October 2007,
in Perth. David Olwa UNISON seconded this statement.
The conference invited many guest
speakers among these were:
· John Hulbert- Provost of Perth
Kinross Council, who welcomed the conference
to Perth.
· Professor Geoff Palmer- Chair
of Edinburgh and Lothian Race Equality Council.
Professor Palmer spoke on the history of the
Slave trade and its implication for Scotland.
· Morag Alexander- Scotland Commissioner
Equality and Human Rights Commission outlined
the priorities of the new commission which are:
building a credible and independent organisation,
mapping and analysing the key battle grounds,
improving life opportunities and experiences
for BME Communities and developing new narratives.
· Jenny Duncan- Chairperson, STUC
Youth Committee reflected the similarity of
the concerns of young members and the conference
agenda.
· Bashir Ahmad- MSP who recalled
his journey into politics and encouraged the
delegates to become active.
· Elspeth Bettany- STUC Disabled
Workers' Committee, linking the work of the
Disabled Members Committee to the concerns of
black members.
· Tricia MacLaren-Chair, STUC
Women's Committee shared the work of the women
committee with conference.
· Grahame Smith, General Secretary
STUC welcomed the input of black workers' committee
and shared concerns as well as the achievements
of the Congress.
· Phil McGarry- President of
the STUC reminded the delegates that the wealth
of Glasgow was built upon this horrific human
trade and we cannot be too complacent about
our history.
47 delegates from 13 trade unions
attended the conference. Sofi Taylor led 14
strong UNISON delegates. 16 motions (including
one composite) were moved and debated at the
conference. UNISON delegates Tamara Mhura and
David Olwa were successful, as no elections
were required for the Black Workers Committee
positions. Georgia Cruickshank, GMB, went unopposed
for the General Council Women's seat.
On General seat, Satnam Ner,
Prospect was elected. The vote of thanks was
moved by Sofi Taylor and seconded by Satnam
Ner. All UNISON delegates played a very active
role at the conference. Among the UNISON delegates
Patricia Agu, Jerome Rueda and Zia Hussain were
first time speakers.
Also at the conference Zaffir
Hakim made a DVD presentation One Workplace
Equal Rights Project. The fringe meeting at
the conference were facilitated by UNISON Scottish
Equality Officer, Eileen Dinning and National
Race Equality Officer, Pav Akhtar, STUC Zaffir
Hakim and "Unite's T&G Scotland Section", Women
Officer Elaine Dougall.
Race Row Professor Resigns
The DNA pioneer professor James
Watson has resigned from his post as chancellor
of Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory in New York
State. The move follows the race row that engulfed
his visit to London last week as a result of
his comments suggesting that black people were
less intelligent than whites. The row led to
his decision to cut short the lecture tour promoting
his autobiography and left him fighting to save
his reputation. On Thursday, his employers announced
that he would be suspended as a result of his
comments. Dave Prentis, UNISON's general secretary
and STUC Black Workers support this call.
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Black Members
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Chair's Message
Dear Readers,
Congratulations to you all. We have
had another eventful year. It was at
the SBMC Policy weekend in Dundee that
SBMC streamlined an action plan to achieve
its priorities and objectives.
It was unity among us and the team
effort, which enabled us to deliver.
I am grateful to all the members of
team SBMC 2006-07 for their commitment
to what we achieved for the first time
in the SBMC history.
Our achievements can be summed up as:
· Continuous increase in our numbers.
· Setting up of 3 Black Self-Organisation
Groups in branches. Quality service
to our members
· Developing Shop Stewards
· Active participation in Consultations/Conferences
· Strong contributions to the NBMC
· Successful Training Weekend
· Building on our strengths
This year Afshan Fairley, Ravi Nathan
and Bernard Kamya have taken time out
due to work / family commitments - SBMC
will miss them dearly.
At our AGM on 17th November 2007, many
new members will be contesting SBMC
elections. I am sure with your vote
their success will makeus even stronger
to take on the future challenges. I
look forward to seeing you at Our AGM,
in Edinburgh.
Best Wishes
Hamid Rasheed
Chair SBMC 2006-07
Editor's Wee Note
UNISON black members in Scotland have
continued to grow in strength during
this year and deserve congratulations
for their continued support of this
newsletter.
Special thanks go to all those members
who have submitted articles in the past
publications. The newsletter has continuously
covered activities within UNISON Scotland.
Members are encouraged to continue
to participate in campaigns and within
their branches. You are all aware our
AGM is on 17 November 2007 Edinburgh.
Please turn up in large numbers and
let your voice be heard.
Finally, I would like to thank all
those who have given me support during
my time as Editor of this Newsletter.
Unfortunately, I will not be serving
on the SBMC due to unavoidable circumstances.
However, I look forward to interacting
with you outside the committee.
Good luck to you all and remember this
is our union. Make excellent use of
all the opportunities. And in pursuing
our aims, let us not forget those who
are suffering in Burma, Darfur Sudan,
Northern Uganda, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
These are all victims of injustices
and HIV, and let us make a resolution
to support our newsletter and UNISON.
Bernard Kamya.
Editor SBMC Newsletter
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Black Members
Newsletter
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Training success again for Black Members
Ismail Donmez, Scottish Black
Members Secretary
This year's Scottish black members
training weekend brought in new and
old members to learn and organise,
to contribute to the work of UNISON
Scotland - defending the rights of
its members by eliminating all forms
of discrimination at all levels.
Lothian Health's Mary Mbae praised
the input of Bob Cotton Award Winner,
Ghulam Rasul Shahzad, who was asked
up from England to tutor on the course.
City of Edinburgh's Maria Barnett
agreed, "Ghulam got us really involved."
Hamid Rasheed, Scottish Black Members
Chair, said, "This year's training
was a re-run of last years programme,
with slight modifications.
"Black members enjoy goodwill and
support for our cause in the Scottish
Learning and Organising Committee
and Scottish Branches."
At the end of the training, David
Okalo Olwa, Chair Lothian Health Black
Members Group, presented a tartan
tie to Ghulam Rasul Shahzad, on behalf
of the delegates.
· 62% trainees were new to the black
members training weekend. · Almost
all trainees were happy with the venue.
Only three trainees expressed dissatisfaction
with hotel services.
· 100% trainees expressed their satisfaction
with the tutor, training content and
the ways the training was delivered.
· All trainees would like to keep
the Training running every year.
Democracy in Action - Lothian
Health Black Members Group Elections
Lui Giacomello A Special Meeting
of the UNISON Lothian Health Black
Members Self Organised Group was held
in September 2007, to elect its office
bearers within the group. The Special
Meeting coincided with UNISON Scotland's
Black Members Training Weekend in
order to provide the course students
with an example of democracy in action.
The Bob Cotton Award Winner Tutor,
Ghulam Rasul Shahzad took the chair
during the elections. Hamid Rasheed,
Chair, Scottish Black Members Group
and Ismail Donmez, Secretary, Scottish
Black Members Group were nominated
to act as tellers.
Ghulam explained the election process
and then proceeded to read out the
nominations, which had been received
following the calling notice to all
Lothian Black Group Members.
The following members were elected
to officer positions in Lothian Health
Branch Black Members Group: David
Olwa, Chair; Tina Makedenge, Vice
Chair; Claudius Manyundwa, Secretary;
Lui Giacomello, Communications; Patricia
Agu, Education; Menchie Aquino, Recruitment
(job share); Midel Lena, Recruitment
(job share). David Olwa, on behalf
of the group, thanked Ghulam, Hamid
and Ismail for their assistance to
ensure fairness in the elections.
David also expressed the hope that
observing the election process must
have enriched learning for the delegates.
David said: "You have seen democracy
in action and I encourage you all
to return to your branches and set
up your own Black Members Groups.
We started from scratch just one year
ago and now we are a 32 member strong
self-organising group.
"Success of our Branch's Black SOG
is enviable, yet we are more than
happy to share our experiences in
setting up of more Black Self-Organisation
Groups in Scottish Branches, he concluded".
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