Black International Construction Organisation

About this item

This document is a letter dated 31 July 1996 from the UK Commission for Racial Equality addressed to Bernie Grant MP concerning the Black International Construction Organisation (BICO). It discusses a complaint alleging that BICO's activities may violate the Race Relations Act 1976. The letter requests information to determine whether BICO’s use of the term "Black" and its services could be considered discriminatory under the law.

Key points:
– The complaint was made by a constituent of Bernard Jenkin MP about an article in Building Design magazine regarding BICO.
– The Commission for Racial Equality is investigating whether BICO's activities breach sections 25 and 26 of the Race Relations Act 1976.
– They seek clarification on how BICO defines the term "Black" within its constitution.
– The Commission requests documentation explaining how BICO offers its services and whether these services are based on race or colour.
– The letter notes the Commission's legal powers to take action if necessary but prefers to seek cooperation first.

Bernie Grant was a pioneering Black British politician and advocate for racial justice, active in trade unionism and local government. This letter illustrates the complex intersection of race, employment, and legal scrutiny in 1990s Britain, highlighting the challenges faced by Black-led organizations like BICO in navigating anti-discrimination law while promoting Black workers’ interests.

Source note: The OCR text is generally clear with minor formatting inconsistencies; the interpretation relies solely on the transcribed letter content without additional context.