Isai Marijerla, Socialist Party Black and Asian group
The TUC (Trades Union Congress) Black members’ conference on 11-13 April brought together over 200 delegates and visitors to discuss the key issues facing Black and Asian workers in Britain.
The mood of the majority of the delegates could not be further from the wording of the motions that were put forward at the conference. The anger against the Labour Party runs deep, and yet none of the motions reflected this or called for the Labour government to oppose war, or stop all cuts to our jobs and services.
The anger against Keir Starmer was felt particularly during the Palestine discussion. The conference started with a powerful and passionate debate on the ongoing bombardment in Gaza and repression in the West Bank. The debate discussed three emergency motions on the issue, all unanimously voted through.
The frustration towards the Labour Party was so intense that even Abena Oppong Asare, one of the first two female British Ghanaian MPs, felt the need to apologise on behalf of the government. She stated that for Labour to improve, we must actively push the government. One thing she said which I agree with, is that we as trade unionists have a role to play.
There was also a high number of first-time delegates and speakers who spoke on various motions, appealing for action rather than just voting motions through and having them in the TUC statute book. It’s not enough to discuss the issue; the purpose of these conferences should be to agree on action and to campaign on it in trade union branches and locally.
Trade unions should lead the fight against racism
The conference discussed many issues, but two main topics were fighting far-right ideas, as well as racism and sexism in workplaces and society. The impact of the 2024 summer riots was felt during the debate on the composite motion on anti-racism campaigning and challenging the rise of the far right.
The mood of the conference was a show of solidarity, strength and support. The idea that we are not alone in this struggle. This is much needed in the day-to-day battle against racism and sexism. But outside the conference, delegates were expressing dissatisfaction about just discussing issues on which we all agree – we should also discuss the differences in tactics and programme to end oppression and how to cut across support for far-right ideas.
In his speech, Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, focused on the TUC’s anti-racism manifesto. He said: “Reform does not, has not and never will represent the interest of working-class people. It’s down to our movement to show Reform is no friend of working-class people.”
Yes, we agree – but the TUC is not showing the way to do this. With over 6.5 million workers, the TUC is the biggest workers’ organisation in Britain – and as the Socialist Party says, it can and must lead an anti-racist, united workers’ fightback to cut across the divisions that are created by the capitalist system.
