FOLLOWING its first conference in June this year, the Black Trade Unionists Solidarity Movement (BTUSM) has already begun to make its mark.
tional executive of the National Association Teachers in Further and Higher Education agreed to listen to BTUSM chairperson Bernie Grant explain why they should support NATHE member John Fernandes in his battle against victimisation.
John Fernandes was a lecturer in multicultural studies the Hendon Police College. He insisted that he be allowed to teach the police cadets from an anti-racist viewpoint, emphasising that racism was a white problem, not a black ole.
He was sacked after he released examnies of explicitly racist essays that cadets had written for him to the press.
At first NATFHE gave him lukewarm support, but then decided to back lecturers at the college who opposed him. The result As a result of a picket of their meeting the naWaS an extraordinary situation where his emers, breat council, are taking a better stand in his defence than his union.
This is just one of the many instances where not defended black workers. Black workers generally are recruited for jobs with the worst working conditions and find themselves in line for the sack first. Promotion usually passes them by. They lack a voice in the trade unions that can protest against these conditions.
It is this situation that led to the formation of the BTUSM, an all-black (Afro-Caribbean Asian) organisation dedicated to removing racism TrOM Ine unions but which does not see itself as a separate black Its first nel al tne beginning or June was attended by over workers unions ranging from the National Railwaymen through to Public Employees and the Government Officers Association In some unions, particularly NALGO, the formation of black caucuses is well advanced. But the presence of trade unionists industrial unions is an indication that black caucuses. may be emerging in these unions too.
unionists have claimed that the forof BTUSM divide the working class. The contrary BTUSM has been formed because the working class is divided, because trade unions have not properly black members.
By forcing unionists white workers to correct this. black workers will begin to feel that the unions are genuinely their's as well, promoting unity of black and white workers • Black terested in joining can get BTUSM, information Southwark rome House, Black Prince Road, London SEI 7SJ.
AcTioN SOCiAlist photo, AN PHORIACHT