RMT’s National Black & Ethnic Minority Members’ Advisory Committee

London Transport Region recently filled all its vacancies on the National Black & Ethnic Minority Members’ Advisory Committee. This followed an election after seven candidates were nominated by their respective branches for the six positions. 

The successful candidates elected for a 3-year term were as follows: 

• Mel Mullings (Bakerloo branch)
• Andrew Childs (Camden No.1)
• Glenroy watson (Finsbury Park) 
• Roy Osarogiagbon (Jubilee South)
• Ebony Kingston (Neasden)
• Glen Hart (Morden & Oval)

Following RMT’s National Black & Ethnic Minority Members’ conference motion a few years ago which requested greater involvement with RMT’s decision on motions it sends to the annual TUC Black workers conference. For the second consecutive year, RMT’s head office has sought the National Black & Ethnic Minority Members’ Advisory Committees input. At the Advisory Committee’s first meeting for the year and after much deliberation the Committee decided to revigorate its call for support across the wider trade union movement in seeking its demand for reparations is heard. The amended text is below: 

MOTION FOR BTUC BLACK WORKER’S CONFERENCE 2022

REPARATIONS FOR AFRIKAN ENSLAVEMENT

Conference notes that the enslavement of Afrikans has left a legacy which cannot be ignored.  

Britain was responsible for transporting an estimated 2.5 million Afrikans enslaving them and using institutionalized racism to maintain the imbalance of wealth, privilege and power in society even now.

Reparation campaigns by Afrikans, in order to repair their societies worldwide, call upon trade unionists for support.  Conference notes that the trade union movement, nationally and internationally, has a responsibility to support the debate and the campaign around

Reparations and reiterates its policy on Reparations and the enslavement of Afrikans passed at the 2003 and 2015 TUC Black Workers’ Conference.  

Conference commends the RMT union for hosting an annual conference for the past 15 years asking the question, “What is the role of the trade union movement in the fight for Reparations?”

Conference calls again to the TUC Black Workers Conference and the TUC Race Relations

Committee to work with the RMT, all affiliates and relevant bodies to support this annual Reparation conference and to increase the level of trade union participation. The next conference is scheduled for Tuesday 23rd August 2022. 

Stand Up to Racism and TUC Trade Union Conference: 5 Feb 2022

On Saturday 5 February trade unionists and workplace activists from across Britain will come together at the ‘Fighting for anti-racist workplaces’ conference – hosted by the TUC and Stand Up To Racism – to talk about how we oppose the government’s racist offensive. This will again be hosted all day online using the Zoom platform.  

Two of our RMT National Black & Ethnic Minority Members’ Advisory Committee members have been asked to speak at workshops for the event (1215 – 1415hrs). 

Glen Hart will be speaking at AMIDST THE COVID PANDEMIC – FIGHTING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM: A STRATEGY FOR ANTI RACIST WORKPLACES

Mel Mullings covering OPPOSING THE POLICING BILL – FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE

REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/217534169557

CLICK HERE for Model letter to trade union branches, regions and executives to support Stand Up To Racism & TUC backed UN day protests and trade union conference, and affiliate to Stand Up To Racism 

This conference comes at a pivotal time where Trade Unions and community groups are under relentless attacks by this government with a raft of arbitrary legislation. 

The government’s CRED report denied the reality of institutional racism exposed by the Black Lives Matter movement, despite the massively disproportionate death rate amongst black front line workers and communities.

The government’s new police bill targets BLM activists and the GRT community and strengthens police powers despite the ongoing reality of black communities facing disproportionate use of stop and search and deaths in police contact.

The government is playing the game of divide and rule, attempting to fool working people that ‘others’ – migrants, refugees and Muslims – are to blame for the problems in our society.

This ‘divide and rule’ strategy legitimises racism and risks opening the door to the racist and fascist right.

We need to take up these arguments in our workplaces and build the unity we need to oppose racism and austerity.

The conference will discuss how we do this and how to maximise the trade union turnout at UN antiracism day events initiated by Stand Up To Racism and also supported by the TUC.

• Stand Up To Racism & TUC trade union conference: Fighting For Anti Racist Workplaces Sat 5 Feb 2022 Online event with plenaries & workshops - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sutr-trade-union-conference-fighting-for-anti-racist-workplaces-tickets-217534169557

• SUTR & TUC TRADE UNION CONFERENCE SAT 5 FEB 2022: FIGHTING FOR ANTI RACIST WORKPLACES - http://standuptoracism.org.uk/sutr-tuc-trade-union-conference-sat-5-feb-2022-fighting-for-anti-racist-workplaces/?mc_cid=5b10547087&mc_eid=af26f02b3b