Morning Star: Up Against Racism in the Unions

About this item

This 1983 Morning Star article features an interview with Bernie Grant, a prominent Black British trade unionist and local government leader. It discusses the founding of the Black Trade Unionists Solidarity Movement, which aimed to confront racism within trade unions. The article highlights the challenges faced by Black workers and the movement's strategy to address discrimination and exclusion in the labor movement.

Key points:
– The Black Trade Unionists Solidarity Movement was created following the 1981 urban riots to expose and challenge racism inside trade unions.
– Bernie Grant criticized the traditional idea of trade union 'brotherhood' as masking existing racial discrimination among union members.
– The movement received funding from the Greater London Council to employ full-time workers and establish offices.
– Grant emphasized practical actions, such as racial awareness training and revising union rules, to counter racism at the shop floor level.
– The article notes specific workplace issues, including resistance to recognizing religious holidays and limited opportunities for Black workers in skilled roles.

Bernie Grant played a key role in Black British political activism by linking anti-racism with trade unionism and local government. This document illustrates how Black workers organized in response to systemic racism within British institutions during the early 1980s. The movement highlights the intersection of racial justice and labor rights, a significant theme in Grant’s lifelong campaign for equality.

Source note: The OCR transcript contains occasional errors and fragmented sentences which may affect exact phrasing. However, the main themes and quotes from Bernie Grant are clear and reliable for understanding the article's content.