REPORT OF THE THIRD NASUWT BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC TEACHERS’ CONSULTATION CONFERENCE HELD ON SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2005
Dave Wilkinson (Chair of the Black and Minority Ethnic Members’ Advisory Committee) welcomed delegates and opened the Conference with an overview of current social and political issues and the implications for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities at home and abroad. Dave referred to the backlash of the recent terror bombings which had resulted in a rise of race hate attacks and islamophobic practices. NASUWT CAMPAIGNING AGAINST RACISM AND FASCISM Jerry Bartlett (Deputy General Secretary) Welcomed delegates to the Conference and remarked that it was pleasing to see such a good turn out once again. Jerry reported that NASUWT had undertaken a review of terms of reference of all advisory committees throughout the year which had resulted in the introduction of two new committees. All committees had also been retitled to adequately reflect the composition of each group. Jerry presented a progress report on the recommendations emanating from the 2004 Conference. These included: Promoting training courses for black activists and women activists; Progress on the TUC Equality Audit actions for 2005-2007; NASUWT work on combating racism through work with the GTC, TDA and DfES; Published research on recruitment of overseas trained teachers and subsequent motion to NASUWT conference 2005; Work with Local Associations to encourage greater attendance and involvement of BME members at local meetings. Jerry reported that the Union had progressed its work on tackling racism and fascim in collaboration with the TUC and national campaigning organisations such as Unite against Fascism. These included: Actively campaigning against the BNP at local and national events, including a large NASUWT turnout at the recent protest rally of BNP leader Nick Griffin’s court appearance in Leeds; Campaigning for a change in the law to allow Unions to exclude members who are active in the BNP and other far right organisations; Lobbying the Government to ensure that BNP activists are excluded from employment in the public sector. Delegates responded to Jerry’s presentation by congratulating NASUWT on its achievements since the last Conference and urged the Union to continue raising the recognition disparities of overseas trained teachers qualifications and low status afforded to BME teachers generally.
1
ORGANISING COMMUNITY
BLACK
WORKERS
ON
THE
WORKPLACE
AND
THE
Colin Inniss (UNISON Area Organiser) stated that he was pleased to be invited to the NASUWT Conference and said that he had spent many years working with teachers and school support staff around the remodelling of schools and with local WAMG groups. Colin remarked that the best people to organise around workplace/community issues are union members. Colin presented an historical overview of union activism and community organising in the late 60’s during the civil rights movement in the States and the impact of this on black organised labour. He referred to the work of Rosa Parks who was an activist and not the tired lady who refused to sit down as portrayed in the press. Colin described Rosa Park’s activism as an excellent example of organising which resulted in historical legislative changes for the benefit of the black population. He shared with the Conference the benefits of effective monitoring and use of organising maps at the local and national level which would show whether branches are reflective of the workforce and the local community. Colin informed delegates that there was a need for black workers to acquire a sense of their collective strength to effect change, which will mean altering the relations of power. He used other examples of effective collective organising such as the Gate Gourmet dispute. He argued that teachers should make use of powerful organising tools such as the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. LEAs and schools as public authorities have specific duties to: Promote good race relations; Monitor the ethnic profile of schools; Monitor employment processes; Monitor and report on racial harassment incidents. Some public authorities and schools are not meeting their duties and members should be urged to form an organising strategy around such issues to tackle inequalities and racist practices. UNITE AGAINST FASCISM Sabby Dhalu (Unite Against Fascism Joint Secretary) Welcomed the opportunity to speak at the Conference and thanked NASUWT for its many years of support on campaigning against the BNP. Sabby reported on the 2004 European Elections where the BNP achieved the highest votes in history. Furthermore, 34 constituencies were gained in the 2005 General Election – compared to 5 last year. She remarked that if this vote trend continues in this manner the BNP would have a real stake in British politics. Sabby said that all groups should mobilise against the BNP as they stand for the denigration of LGBT communities, trade union activists as well as BME communities. She further reported on the increase in attacks on predominately Muslim communities following the 7/7 terror bombings. A new debate on multi-culturalism 2
had emerged which was stigmatising particular groups, working against social inclusion and legitimising many forms of racism. Sabby reported on a range of positive campaigning work against racism and fascism that been effective around the country. This included: Millwall, Oldham and West Yorkshire campaigns against the BNP; Alliances with other organisations in Oldham to counter myths of racist attacks by Asian people on white people. Police were forced to admit real figures on racist attacks and perpetrators. OPEN FORUM – PANEL DEBATE During the open forum and panel debate delegates stated that teachers were in a prime position to raise awareness and politicise future generations of people to mobilise against racism and fascism. Other issues raised during the discussion were as follows: Immigration and asylum issues; Teachers not provided information on data collection exercise and records on racial harassment against staff and pupils; Guidance to members to report racial harassment on accident reporting forms; Need to campaign and ballot members in schools on issues of racism and discrimination where schools are not complying with the law; Issues around competence of local secretaries and school rep and their lack of pro-active action against racism and recognising and taking action in support of BME members; Need to tackle institutionalised racism rather than challenging overt racist groups such as the BNP.
TUC AGENDA ON RACE EQUALITY Sue Rogers, (National Treasurer) introduced and welcomed Gloria Mills to the Conference and stated that it was an honour for NASUWT to have the first black women TUC President speaking at one of its national events at the beginning of her presidency. Gloria Mills (TUC President) thanked NASUWT for the invitation and stated that she was pleased to attend and speak at such a well attended event. She complimented NASUWT on its achievements on tackling racism and said that the Union has been at the forefront of equality promotion particularly within its response to the TUC Equality Audit. Gloria shared her experience of becoming active within the trade union movement and barriers she faced throughout the years on racist grounds. She explained that she had experienced many manifestations of racism in employment and within her own union in her attempts to move up the ranks. She had been empowered by educating herself with the law which had encouraged her to become active and challenge all forms of racist practices. Gloria reported that during 2004 the TUC membership grew by 20%. However there was a need to challenge disproportionality in terms of employment of BME people.
3
Gloria remarked on the progressive work achieved by unions at the TUC Black Workers’ Conference since its inception. As the Chair of the TUC Race Relations Committee for many years she had seen a real shift in impetus of race equality work within the UK and on a global footing which has been driven by the Black Workers’ Conference. She said that it was pleasing the NASUWT has been active at this event for a number of years. Gloria said that education is a pathway out of poverty and can have a big impact on economic prosperity. She questioned why that three decades on Black children were still disproportionately underachieving. She commented that teaching unions can also have a stake in dealing with underachievement of those groups who are under performing and that BME children should not be consigned to low paid and low grade jobs. During a question and answer session Gloria suggested that NASUWT and other unions are in a key position to monitor the adverse equality impact of education policies and practices to ensure discriminatory practices are not allowed to continue. Need to have regional networks of members to campaign around priority issues.
Workshops During the afternoon session, the Conference divided into workshop groups on: Tackling racism and fascism; Key issues for NASUWT and the wider trade union movement; Issues facing BME teachers and NASUWT strategies for action. Delegates were advised of the TUC Black Workers’ Conference on 7-9 April 2006 and invited to participate as an NASUWT delegate or visitor. The Conference was invited to suggest topics to inform an NASUWT motion for submission to the 2006 TUC Black Workers’ Conference. Conclusion The Chair concluded by thanking the delegates for their participation in the Conference and undertook to ensure that feedback from this event would be considered by the NASUWT Equal Opportunities Committee. A report of the proceedings would also be distributed to all delegates and posted on the NASUWT website for information.
RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations were made by the Conference: (a) NASUWT should monitor issues of harassment against members. Also how the school monitoring reports are being used and published to staff and parents; NASUWT Black and Minority Ethnic Members Committee should consider developing a two-day Conference to provide sufficient time for further debate;
(b)
4
(c)
The Union to promote and develop regional networks of members to campaign around priority issues; NASUWT to continue raising issues of the discriminatory aspects of the recruitment and retention of BME teachers – particularly those from overseas; Consideration be given to monitoring school representative and local secretaries awareness of recognising discriminatory cases on the grounds of race; NASUWT to consider issuing guidance to members on the potential for discriminatory practices of school staffing reviews; The Union to encourage the promotion of race equality in schools through citizenship and other curriculum work, rather than one month per year – Black History Month.
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
5