Organising to defeat the far right

“We live in very dangerous times. For years, there was a consensus right across the political spectrum that we must keep the fascists out of the political mainstream. That clearly is changing,” said Brian Robinson from Stand Against Racism and Inequality (pictured).

“The rise of populist leaders like Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil – as well as an increased vote for fascist parties in Germany, Sweden, Italy and many other countries – has emboldened racists.

“The EU referendum result has given confidence to right wing leaders and groups,” continued Mr Robinson. “We know that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon [also known as Tommy Robinson] and other right-wing organisations have links with international groups. We cannot be complacent. We have to think how we can marginalise, mobilise and prevent them from making a serious breakthrough.”

Get organised

“When I was young, I worked as a housing officer on the Beechdale estate in Walsall, which was notorious for racist hate crimes,” said UNISON assistant general secretary, Roger McKenzie.

“One night, my boss grabbed me and literally threw me under the table as the National Front was outside. The only way I got home safely was by being smuggled out under a coat. I had family who lived on that estate too and they were routinely attacked. They had letter bombs and dog mess put through their letterboxes and were generally harassed and attacked in the streets.

“You can try and defeat racism and fascism on your own. But my lesson from history is that you are much more likely to succeed if you stand up to racism collectively. The far right have to know that, when they attack one Black family, they face the whole Black community.”

Counter campaigns

“Last year, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon stood as a candidate in the European elections,” said Mr Robinson.

“He saw the elections as an opportunity to make a breakthrough in the North West, but anti-racist groups mobilised on the streets of Manchester. We knocked on doors, we held stalls and we leafleted areas.”

Voters most likely to oppose Yaxley-Lennon’s divisive policies were encouraged to get out and vote.

“Stephen Yaxley-Lennon ended up skulking away from Manchester town hall after being defeated with only 2% of the vote and losing his deposit.

“Rather than hoping fascists don’t exist, that they’ll go away or people won’t take them seriously, we need to organise and run campaigns to expose them.”

Online racism

“Immediately following the EU referendum, there was an increase in the number of racist attacks being reported to us,” said Rose Simpkins of Stop Hate UK.

“We challenge hate crime both online and offline. Our advice is to encourage people to report hate crime to us – or another anti-racist organisation if we do not operate in your area.

“The worst examples of racism are always in the comments online. We have teams and volunteers who are expert at disrupting these threads and drowning out racists by

Creating a different dialogue.

“If you see something offensive online always take a screen shot and report it to the social media outlet where you’ve seen it. If they say it doesn’t breach their community standards, don’t accept this. Report it again. Create an atmosphere where social media companies do not want this stuff on their platform.

Hatemeter is an EU-funded project that monitors anti-Muslim content and has an ITtool that produces computer-assisted responses and hints to support anti-racist and awareness raising campaigns.

But it’s important to remember: “do not engage with racists online without following guidelines as you could place yourself at risk.”

“The luxury of doing nothing doesn’t exist anymore,” said Mr McKenzie. “It is time to organise and show solidarity. Working people need to pull together.”

“We have to fight against the attitude that it’s okay for racists to say and do what they want.

There can be no room for complacency. Black self-organisation is so important. It’s not about winning an argument, it’s about how we can build that sense of collective organisation in communities.

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Too many unanswered questions

Hundreds of delegates were silent at Black members’ conference today as they listened to the tragic story of Zane Gbangbola, who was killed by hydrogen cyanide poisoning.

Zane’s father, Kye (pictured), spoke calmly and with great dignity as he described how, after years of fighting for the truth, he is still confronted daily with silence from the authorities involved.

“Zane deserves justice, he deserves the truth. I’m sure many of you in the audience have children and I would not wish what has happened to me and my family to ever happen again,” he said.

“Yet until we get to the truth, there is a very real chance that a similar disaster could occur, particularly as the risk of flooding increases with climate change.”

The Gbangbola family’s nightmare began on 8 February 2014 when severe weather warnings were announced across of England. As Zane slept upstairs at his home in Chertsey, Surrey, a flash flood of water from a neighbouring field started seeping into their home.

It was later revealed that this field had previously been used for landfill and hydrogen cyanide can lurk in such sites. This gas is so deadly that it was the one used to kill millions in the Nazi gas chambers during the Holocaust.

“It was my wife Nicole who alerted the emergency services that night as both Zane and I were seriously exposed to the gas and were unconscious. If she hadn’t dialled 999, it is very likely that many more people would have been killed.”

Tragically, Zane died that night and Kye, who was also exposed to the gas, suffered a cardiac arrest. He is now a paraplegic as a result of his injuries. Nicole was downstairs when the gas entered the house and survived without permanent injury, as hydrogen cyanide is lighter than air and the gas had risen to the top of the house.

A report by the Surrey Fire Service that night confirmed that high levels of hydrogen cyanide were found at the site.

Yet despite Zane’s death, Kye’s injuries, the official fire service report, the immediate presence of the world leading chemical weapons agency Porton Down at the site, and the fact that the Gbangbolas were not allowed to return to their home for 12 months, the family soon realised that the truth of what had happened that night was to be hidden from them.

For six years, the government has led a cover up of the truth. And the silence remains unbreached today.

At Zane’s inquest, the Gbangbola family was confronted with an army of top QCs and barristers. Each of the five authorities involved had its own team of legal experts – plus an additional team for the coroner.

“These teams were paid for from public funds,” said Kye. “By contrast, we were denied legal aid three times and had to crowd fund to afford the most basic representation.

“Zane was a beautiful and popular seven-year-old schoolboy who loved helping people and charities with his mummy and daddy,” said Kye. “At the inquest though, he was stripped of his human right to have his case heard by a jury. When you talk about equality of arms, it was tantamount to having multiple Goliaths bombarding a naked David.”

The inquest concluded that Zane died of carbon monoxide poisoning– a gas more commonly associated with home gas boilers – despite the fact that no dangerous levels of carbon monoxide were found at Zane’s home on the night of disaster and the family lived in an electric-only home.

The Truth About Zane campaign is now demanding an independent panel enquiry so that the truth of what happened that night and the risk posed by land fill sites across the UK can be fully exposed.

The British Medical Journal has identified that more than 50 million people in the UK live within 2km of landfill and, until there is an enquiry, the potential risk of similar disasters occurring will not be known.

“An independent panel enquiry is the way that Hillsborough finally got the truth after years of lies and misinformation,” explained Kye. “It’s a way of releasing information that has been locked away for years.”

Over the last six years, The Truth About Zane campaign has attracted widespread support from many politicians, organisations and trade unions, including UNISON and the Fire Brigades’ Union, whose members were at the scene on the night of Zane’s death. The Labour Party and the Green Party support the campaign too.

At the end of his speech, delegates at Black members’ conference gave Kye a standing ovation and collected donations in buckets to help fund the campaign.

“I thank you for your support in fighting this injustice,” said Kye. “Please show this support by signing our petition and pre-ordering a copy of our book. Together, we can find the truth about Zane and prevent similar disasters happening again in the future.”

Find out more – and pre-order a copy of The Truth About Zane – at www.truthaboutzane.com

Sign the petition for an independent investigation into Zane’s death

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Young Black member of the year – ‘I’m just trying to fight injustice’

Funmi Ayeni (pictured above) was “overwhelmed” when she found out that she’d won the first Young Black Members’ Award. “I didn’t expect to win it, but it was an amazing feeling when I did.”

This prestigious award was introduced by the national Black members’ committee in 2019, UNISON’s year of young members, and was presented at this weekend’s Black members’ conference in Bournemouth.

It’s aim is to recognise the achievements of young activists and to encourage others to get involved in the union.

Twenty-six-year old Funmi is a support worker for young people with mental health challenges and believes she won the award for going ‘above and beyond’ her work. Speaking at the Black members’ conference in Bournemouth, she said: “I’m just trying to fight the injustice that we face.

“I love working with young people – they are my passion. But the thing is, they face discrimination. They’re scared to apply for jobs because they’re not sure they’ll be able to get them. And in most cases, they can’t afford to move out of their parents’ homes because of the pay gap.

“I first came to conference in 2017 and I’ve only got a year left as a young member. I want to get as many young people on board as possible before then.

“UNISON provides all these opportunities – like training, childcare, resources – and many people aren’t aware of them. I would love to be a mentor if I can.”

As well as being a UNISON activist, Funmi says that her passion comes from the Labour Party, for which she is a young person’s officer. She is also a trade union liaison officer there.

At the moment, she says that zero-hour contracts are the biggest issue for the young people she works with.

“We need to get out to the universities and to schools and teach young people about trade unions. They need to learn about tax, work contracts and housing costs.

“We need young people to be prepared for real life – instead of just throwing us in at the deep end.

“Young people are discriminated against because of their age. It’s just not on. The pressure is so high. Young people are out there, but because of what’s going on, they don’t feel cared about. 

“I am the only Black person in my job role, which is quite challenging. I’ve recently had to use UNISON myself because of a discrimination issue at work. I didn’t realise how hard it was as a young Black woman to be in a job like mine and I’m so grateful to UNISON for helping me.

“Without UNISON, I would have been depressed and probably given up my job. And then I would have been left homeless or on benefits, and I’ve got a young child – it’s not fair.

“You can only be positive. So fingers crossed: I’m not going to give up – particularly for the young ones. I’m fighting for injustice in the world. I’m inspired to keep going. At work, I’m always fighting for something. Hopefully we’ll get there.”

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2020 Nelson Mandela Award presented to ‘pioneering’ woman

Yvonne Green was presented with the 2020 Nelson Mandela Award at this weekend’s Black members’ conference, by vice president Sian Stockham, for going “above and beyond” her duties toward Black members.

“Yvonne is an inspiration to us all proving what can be achieved when you don’t give up the struggle,” said Carol Sewell, chair of the national Black members’ committee.

The award is particularly coveted, as winners are chosen by their peers.

Ms Green is a pioneer. She is the first Black person to hold the role of branch secretary in the London Borough of Croydon, where she has driven forward the equality agenda on behalf of UNISON members, often raising contentious and difficult issues.

Her employer has not only appointed her as its first female Black director, but has now appointed four women to the position of executive directors – three of whom are Black.

Ms Green has also overseen the introduction of trade union officers sitting as panel members at interviews for senior director positions, which is an unprecedented achievement.

She also holds many other roles, which include being the Greater London regional convenor for several years.

“Equality is at the heart of everything I do,” she told delegates. “The right not to be discriminated against or bullied, the right to fair treatment is vital. I am delighted to have been chosen as this year’s winner.

“I am overwhelmed with pride to be honoured in this way.”

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‘Our strength comes from you’, president tells conference

“This conference is the tip of the iceberg. It does not tell the full story of Black members’ achievements at a time of hardship and real struggle, and why you are such a significant part of our union.”

Opening the second day of the 2020 Black members’ conference in Bournemouth, UNISON’s president Josie Bird spoke of her pride in being part of the union family, and thanked the Black members’ committee for its hard work fighting racism and xenophobia.

She also thanked the committee for supporting disabled, LGBT+ and women members to strengthen the fight against all forms of prejudice.

“Whatever form it takes, I believe we all have to stand up to and challenge the politics of intolerance and hate. As of today, we’ve left the EU and we’re going to need that strength and commitment in the months and years to come.

“Since the referendum, there has been an increase in racist attacks and appalling levels of hostility directed towards black people. EU citizens, refugees and those from migrant backgrounds are facing more and more abuse from people who feel their views have been validated by the current occupants of No10 and the White House.

“Anti-immigration rhetoric has become common in everyday life. And we shall never forget the scandal of the Windrush generation,” continued Ms Bird.

“This is a government that seems certain to inflict more misery on the population – especially when the potential for a hard Brexit remains all too real.”

The president also spoke passionately about the inequalities in the UK – where the six richest people have the same amount of money as the poorest 13 million, and 800,000 people are working on zero-hour contracts.

Pointing out that the UK is the fifth richest nation in the world, she went on to say that “the prime minister may have no regard for working class people, but we shall continue to be your strongest advocate.

“Many challenges lie ahead with a Tory government, which is extremely relaxed about increasing inequality in this country, but we know what we’re up against.

“As a union we are challenging inequality and we are winning – but our strength comes from you, our members. We need a strong union now more than ever as so much more remains to be done.”

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‘Getting actively involved with UNISON … got me out of the abyss’

Delegates applauded Charmaine Blaze at the Black members’ conference today, when she movingly described how UNISON helped her secure a managerial role at NHS Scotland after years of being under-employed, under-valued and lacking career progression.

She observed that, for Black women in particular, the gender pay gap is “less of a gap and more of an abyss or chasm”.

Ms Blaze (pictured) said: “Many times they offer us employment and, when we come to the table, they give us crumbs while they feast on the key roles – the important roles, the leadership roles, the management roles.”

Some two years ago, it was a lifeline from UNISON that meant she was able to move out of that “abyss” by getting actively involved with the union.

“My branch helped me strategically to move out of being under-employed. And after a lot of pushing and pressing forward and not giving up, I secured – late last year – a managerial role in NHS Scotland.

So we have to keep pressing, we have to mobilise women and we have to train women to secure leadership roles.”

Almost eight out of 10 UK companies and public sector bodies pay men more than women and the figures are even more stark for Black women.

However, there is currently a lack of detailed research to identify how Black women, LGBT+ women and those with disabilities are affected disproportionately despite much anecdotal evidence.

A delegate from Newcastle described how Black women are often invisible when it comes to wages, but very visible in their absence on the career progression ladder.

“We are just too low down to be noticed. We need to increase awareness of the injustice of unequal pay.”

She said that recent research involving Manchester University had revealed that, despite high educational achievements and aspirations, Black women face disproportionately lower pay and fewer prospects for promotion.

They are also more likely to be employed on zero-hour, low-hour and insecure contracts.

Delegates approved a motion to campaign for strengthened legislation to force companies to report what work they are doing to eradicate the gender pay gap. They also approved calls for a change in the way figures are reported to include a more detailed breakdown in figures.

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‘This is our time’, Prentis tells Black members

“We live in difficult times. We all know it. But let us say loud and clear, as we leave the European Union at 11pm tonight, all of us send out a message to commit our union to fight the rise in nationalism and hatred facing so many of our communities.”

That was at the heart of a rousing speech, as general secretary Dave Prentis addressed UNISON’s Black members’ conference in Bournemouth this afternoon.

“We won’t stand by as the government makes immigrants into second-class citizens. Migrant workers are part of the UNISON family. Their story is the story of UNISON too. We will lead by example.”

Speaking to a packed crowd, Mr Prentis vowed to defend immigrants’ rights to health care and to living and studying without fear. “You are not alone. You are not friendless – not while UNISON is here. We will be their friends and protectors.”

The general secretary also spoke of UNISON’s on-going fight in seeking justice for the Windrush generation.

“Windrush migrants and their families have received shabby and shameful treatment – with letters from the Home Office telling people who’ve lived in the UK all their adult lives to leave because they have no right to live here. Instead of gratitude, the Windrush generation has been met with destitution.

“And this is from a country that has taken the best years of their lives,” he continued. “Their blood, sweat and toil. A country that relies on the public services they helped build.”

Many migrants and their families have lost their homes and in some cases, even their lives, as a result of the scandal.

“I am speaking here of people like Dexter Bristol, who came to the UK to join his mother, an NHS nurse. But he lost his job and his access to benefits.

“He spent the last year of his life destitute, in an endless battle with the Home Office and his mother believes the stress he was under led to his death. And he is not the only one.”

Mr Prentis said that, while nothing can truly make up for the way the Windrush generation has been treated, the government has still failed to learn lessons.

The compensation scheme process is overly complex and bureaucratic, while the pay outs are “laughable”. And the internal review of what happened inside the Home Office still hasn’t been published.

“The Windrush generation received shabby, shameful treatment and the Tories are hoping that we’ve forgotten about it. Well, all I can say is – not on our watch.”

Mr Prentis also spoke of the challenges facing Black workers following the recent Conservative election victory.

“The Tories have disdain for public services and for our people who rely on them,” he said. “We meet at a time when our movement faces great challenges.

“Trade unions weren’t made for the good times. Our public services are under further threat and who suffers the most? Black workers and, most of all, Black women. Too many members feel isolated by the covert and open-faced racism they face and by the ‘concrete ceiling’ on Black workers’ aspirations and ambitions.

“Together, we must fight for our public services and for our principles, because politics isn’t only about leaders – it’s about all of us. Your work fighting for justice in the workplace and in our communities is showing people who we are. You are such an important part of growing our union.

“We will defend our people who face attacks and abuse because of the colour of their skin or their accents. And we will lead the way and show by example by our union being a beacon of hope – of unity of friendship.

“There is no better union to lead that fight and there are no better members to lead that cause.”

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