are organising to combat racism. The Black Unionists Solidarity Movement is holding a conference on 4-5 June in County Hall London.
declaration of BTUSM aims states:
• The disturbances in Brixton, Southall elsewhere show that black SITU prepared to accept unemployment, bad housing, police provocation institutional and individual racism inherent in British society.
Health Association carreport from the Anti-Slavery Society following an article in the Observer last year which alleged that the practice vas taking place regular ly in Britain The Observer quoted a Harley Street doctor who estimated that dozen are carried out in London each year for a fee of £800 to £1000. The report in Socialism and Health also reveals that this practice isn't new to prominent surgeon in the mid 19th century believed that women, particularly young working girls, would be happier healthier the "burden" of their He uality was removed. therefore performed many operations to cut out the clitoris young women.' to dav racism at the workplace must be of primary concern to us and we aware that unemployment, short time working, redundancy and other forms of direct anc fect black people more than any OUCI section within British society.
• We have a duty to organise ourselves within the trade unions and the labour movement to comracism we resolved organise in such a wav that we Coll promote and DrOLCCU the interests of black people in This appeal, which also pledges work for changes within the unions and labour movement to restore the confidence OI black people, is signed by activists NALGO, UCW NUPE, AUEW. TGWU.
NUT, GMBTU, NUR and ASTMS.
NUPE full timer Bernie Grant spoke for the BTUSM at a meeting of back Camden council workers on 9 March He explainea une work or te BUSM and said that the June conterence will Commissioner Fenis Augustine and will have speakers from South Africa and the USA The 70 black workers at the Camden meeting discussed the issues that face many black workers - how to get the council and union to consider their interests when making policy; how to achieve real equal opportunities; to get representation in the unions orgnaise in caucuses avoiding the trap of setting up rival union organisation; to allocale places Ior black training courses and policy making bodies.
the they set up the Camden Black Workers Group combat individual and in. stitutional racism.
Black workers throughout the country share these concerns. The BTUSM conference on the theme of black uniwill be an important step bring these periences together.
• For information con Neville Adams.
Nevill Rd, London N16 you use an extra