Joint BARAC UK and DPAC Press Statement; immediate release - Coronavirus ; end of shielding

 PRESS STATEMENT 
Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) and Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK

For immediate release 

From today  (31st March), disabled workers most at risk of catching and suffering long term impacts from Covid will have no legal protections against going into the workplace and putting their lives on the line as shielding comes to an end for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.  

The majority of those shielding have not had the second vaccine and therefore they are still extremely vulnerable.

We believe it is irresponsible and discriminatory to intersectional disabled people to end shielding at this time and that those most at risk need protections in place. Recent research demonstrates that those with existing conditions such as asthma and diabetes are more likely to get long covid and that long covid is leading to increasing numbers of people becoming disabled as a result. Middle aged women are the  hardest hit by long covid. In addition black and minority ethnic people are disproportionately contracting covid. Six out of ten people dying from  covid have been disabled, according to ONS data. 

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated existing discrimination and inequalities which have been amplified through over a decade of austerity. It is unacceptable  for government to leave those most at risk unprotected and at risk of losing jobs. When disabled and black and minority  ethnic people lose their jobs, it takes longer for them to find a new job because of existing discrimination in the labour market.

A spokesperson from DPAC said: 

“The government has always prioritised profit above disabled people’s lives. They have calculated they can get away with this. Their scientific advisors have said there will be a third wave and at least another thirty thousand deaths. How many of those will be disabled workers? It is chilling to think what the motivations behind this could be.”

Zita Holbourne, National Chair of BARAC UK said:

"Black, Asian and minority ethnic people are  up to three times more likely to contract and die of coronavirus and are more likely to work in precarious work with worsened terms, conditions and extremely low pay. Many work in frontline jobs. Lifting protection for those who are shielding is likely to lead to more black workers placed at risk or losing their jobs if it is unsafe for them to travel to workplaces and worse still, more deaths. Long covid is devastating lives and there needs to be urgent action by government to protect the jobs of all those who have long covid to ensure their jobs are protected and that  there is no detriment to pay, pensions and benefits. The intersect between disability plus race, gender, sexual orientation and age cannot be ignored."

Ends

Contact:

BARAC UK

Zita Holbourne 

barac.info@gmail.com 

Tel.07711861660 

DPAC 

Paula Peters

poppinsmary119@yahoo.co.uk

07909594434

People's Assembly National Rally co-hosted by BARAC UK and others , Thursday 7th May 6.30 to 8pm

BARAC UK is a co-host of this event on Thursday  6.30 to 8pm
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/234254484316736/

TUC Survey exposing the reality of racism faced by Black Workers

The TUC is launching an online survey to expose the everyday reality of racism faced by many Black workers.  This is the first time that a survey of this kind has been carried out across the trade union movement and we want to get a large response. 

The trade union movement is committed to eradicating racism in the workplace. However, for many workers experiencing racism at work is part of their everyday life. This may take the form of racial harassment from a manager colleague, customer, or client and can result in being denied access to promotion or training.

Please can you:

• Put our banner promoting the survey on your website (banner attached please forward to your web team with the following survey link http://bit.ly/racismatwork )
• Promote through Black workers committee and other committees
• Send information on the survey to branches
• Promote through trade union newsletters, magazines etc.

We are asking non-unionised as well as unionised workers to complete the survey. The information provided will be treated in confidence and the survey can be completed anonymously.

We are also keen to hear from anyone who has witnessed any form of racial harassment or discrimination.

If you have any questions please contact Wilf Sullivan wsullivan@tuc.org.uk  or Natasha Owusu nowusu@tuc.org.uk

Please circulate and complete this short survey on Racism at Work http://bit.ly/racismatwork

Thank you for your support.

Report on the TUC Black Workers Conference

BARAC had a busy three days at TUC Black Workers Conference with BARAC members attending the conference as trade union delegates and observers, organising a Sarah Reed Justice Campaign fringe meeting and an art exhibition and book launch by Co-Chair of BARAC Zita Holbourne.  

read article here - reporting on the conference agenda, written by Zita

Amongst BARAC representatives at the conference were Zita, Donna Guthrie, Hector Wesley, Antonietta Torsiello and Carol Notice-Hodgson. 

Hector Wesley, PCS NEC and BARAC International Officer

Donna Guthrie, National Women's Officer BARAC UK and Unite the Union rep

A motion moved by the PCS Union called on the TUC and affiliates to make links between campaigns on supporting refugees, against climate change and on anti racism and anti fascism and to support the work of organisations such as BARAC coordinating aid convoys to refugees in France.

The motion was carried unanimously.

An emergency motion calling on affiliates and the TUC to support the Sarah Reed Campaign for Justice, also proposed by the PCS Union was carried unanimously.  Both motions were moved by Zita.

Marilyn Reed, mother of Sarah Reed was due to address the conference on Saturday morning was due to being unwell was unable to. Instead Donna McKoy from the Sarah Reed Campaign for Justice read Marilyn's speech and received a standing ovation.  You can watch an extract of her presentation here

Donna McKoy, Blaksox and Starah Reed campaign

A bucket collection for the campaign collected £150.

left to right, Betty Joseph, Chair of Conference , Donna McKoy, Zita Holbourne

A motion put forward by the POA called on the TUC Black Workers Conference to change it's name to BAME.

Like Black Workers Conference, Society of Black Lawyers, Southall Black Sisters and countless other organisations BARAC uses the term black in its political sense to include all those that identify as being black and from the African and Asian diasporas.

Zita spoke against the motion on behalf of the TUC Race Relations Committee and several unions spoke in opposition.  You can watch Zita's speech here

The motion was heavily defeated.

The BARAC Fringe Meeting in support of the Sarah Reed Campaign for Justice was sponsored by the PCS Union for which we are grateful.

The meeting was chaired by Zita Holbourne and speakers  were Donna McKoy  who spoke about the next steps for the campaign and how people could help and Donna Guthrie, BARAC Women's Officer who spoke about the wider context of  Sarah's tragic death and the combined impacts of racism, sexism, black mental health, institutitional racism and austerity. 

Donna Guthrie, Donna McKoy and Zita Holbourne 

Each year the TUC Race Relations Committee choose a cause to support through their annual fundraising dance at the conference. This year they chose BARAC Humanitarian Aid Convoys. The dance raised £1500 through ticket sales. 

More information and donate here

In addition Zita curated the Roots Culture Identity art exhibition at the conference  featuring the art of young, black and migrant artists with Zita's art and she launched her new book Striving for Equality Freedom and Justice. BARAC member Antonietta Torsiello had art featured in the exhibition and Donna Guthrie with Antonietta ran  a stall at the conference.

Survey for Young Black Workers on your experience with Trade Unions

BARAC is regularly contacted by young black workers seeking advise, support and representation due to workplace issues because their unions have not supported them or because there is no union presence at their workplace  and they don't know how to access union support.

Young black people are most likely to be in temporary and casual jobs on low pay due to cuts and austerity and face instititutional racism in the labour market as well as age discrimination with employers increasingly taking advantage of them, imposing changes to terms and conditions and irregular working hours and patterns with the increased use of zero hours contracts.

The young black people coming to us have experienced a range of issues from unfair disciplinary action, unfair dismissals, harassment and bullying, direct and indirect race discrimination and institutional racism in workplaces.  They experience detrimental treatment when compared to white colleagues and older colleagues.

They have had to find out about trade unions themselves with no union presence in their workplace and no trade union session in their induction  / training prograamme and experienced difficulties in getting representation and advice when needed.

As a result of this BARAC has decided to conduct a survey of the experiences of young black people and trade unions.

We plan to present the results to the TUC and Trade Unions.

The survey is completely anonymous and if you share your contact details with us in order to join the BARAC mailing list and keep in touch with us we will not share your contact details with anyone else.

It is aimed at those aged 16 to 28 years of age who identify as being black or BME.

Please use the link below to start the survey and share  with other young black people you know.

Survey: Trade Unions & Young Black Workers

BARAC SAYS ' HANDS OFF MY PENSION' ; SUPPORT THE N30 PENSION STRIKES

 


'BARAC says no' flyer page 1

 

David Cameron said recently that the government is only asking public sector workers to work a little longer and contribute a little more in order to receive a great pension. He would have been more
honest had he said that the government is asking public sector workers to work up to 8 years longer, to receive a substantially lower pension with many losing tens of thousands of pounds over the course of their retirement.

The government’s intransigent approach to the public sector pension negotiations has resulted in more than 20 trade unions representing millions of workers coming together to signal their intention to take strike action on 30 November. Some already have a mandate to take industrial action whilst others are currently balloting their members.

Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) fully supports the planned industrial action. We recognise that black workers are concentrated in parts of the public sector and so will be particularly impacted by the government’s plans.

Most public sector workers are modestly paid. Their pay has been frozen while inflation is rising. Yet they are being expected to pay £3 billion a year to reduce a deficit in the public finance they did nothing to create.
Most public sector pensions in payment are less than £5,600 a year (£3,000) in local government. The Hutton Report commissioned by the government itself rejects the notion that public sector pensions are gold-plated. The same report also concluded that the cost of public sector pensions is forecast to fall over the next 50 years. The National Audit Office stated the same.

The last Labour Government reached an agreement with the unions which all sides – including the
government’s actuaries – agreed meant that public sector pensions would be sustainable in the long term.
BARAC believes that all workers whether they are public sector or the private sector should receive a good pension. That’s why it supports the Fair Pensions for All Campaign.

If you work in the public sector see how much you stand to lose by visiting:
http://pensionsjustice.org.uk/pensions-changes-calculator/

We call on black workers, communities and services users to support the strikes on November 30th - cuts to the public sector impact on black workers disproportionately and we need to fully participate in campaigns to defend jobs, services, pensions and communities.

We encourage you to attend and get involved in anti cuts groups and union campaign activities building for maximum turnout on 30th November which could see up to 3 million public sector workers out on strike and on the day if you are in a striking union it's essential that you are out on strike, on the picket lines and attending the many marches and rallies that will be taking place in Towns and Cities across the UK.

To join the BARAC email list or to receive the N30 BARAC flyers electronically so you can circulate them more widely contact barac.info@gmail.com

EVENT: Hand Off My Pension :https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=159528684144197

Keep up to date with our events and activities via our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/108132359239521/

 or on our website http://blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts.blogspot.com/.

Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/baracuk  @BARACUK

 

'BARAC says' flyer page 2



THEY WERE DEFEATED BY THE STRENGTH OF UNITY - A POEM ABOUT TOWER HAMLETS, 3/9 WRITTEN BY ZITA HOLBOURNE

THEY WERE DEFEATED BY THE STRENGTH OF UNITY - A POEM ABOUT THE PROTEST IN TOWER HAMLETS ON 3/9/11,  WRITTEN BY ZITA HOLBOURNE, COPYRIGHT SEPTEMBER 2011 

On the streets of Tower Hamlets people congregated
To stand against racism, fascism and hatred
With placards and banners of solidarity
Bearing slogans of truth, hope and equality
All ages, races, religions, sexual orientation
Bringing with us strength, unity and inspiration

They were defeated by the spirit of community
They were defeated by commitment to equality
They were defeated by the love of humanity
They were defeated by the strength of unity

All through the week leading up to this day
We had worked to keep the haters away
From supermarkets to parks, pubs to train stations
People power and trade union organisation
The fascists were blocked and rejected
They were turned away and ejected

They were defeated by the spirit of community
They were defeated by commitment to equality
They were defeated by the love of humanity
They were defeated by the strength of unity

So when this day came they were unable to enter
Let alone bring their vile attitudes to the centre
Of where we were standing in unity
Gathered together in solidarity
A diverse crowd united
Against the fascists‘ hatred

They were defeated by the spirit of community
They were defeated by commitment to equality
They were defeated by the love of humanity
They were defeated by the strength of unity

Taking inspiration from speakers, artists and each other
Shoulder to shoulder sister and brother
When the haters with their empty words of stupidity
Came with their ignorant, violent mentality
Trying to enter this haven of peace and humanity
Their narrow minds were no match for the strength of diversity

They were defeated by the spirit of community
They were defeated by commitment to equality
They were defeated by the love of humanity
They were defeated by the strength of unity

They departed without achieving them aim
They left hanging their heads in shame
Whilst we marched as one in victory
Knowing this day would go down in history
No Pasaran! on Cable Street
They Shall Not Pass! We will defeat

They were defeated by the spirit of community
They were defeated by commitment to equality
They were defeated by the love of humanity
They were defeated by the strength of unity

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Protest against the EDL - Tower Hamlets 3 Sept 2011
Anti-fascists protested in Tower Hamlets to stop the EDL.
Zita Holbourne, PCS national executive member and TUC race relations committee spoke at the anti-fascist rally..."We shall boot them out of Tower Hamlets"
(Video posted on YouTube by HarpyMarx; many thanks)  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G69KTV0bSzQ&feature=player_embedded

BULLINGDON GANGSTER - A POEM WRITTEN BY ZITA HOLBOURNE, COPYRIGHT AUGUST 2011

BULLINGDON GANGSTER

WRITTEN BY ZITA HOLBOURNE, COPYRIGHT AUGUST 2011

BORN RICH YET STILL YOU WERE A GANG MEMBER

GREW UP IN LUXURY BUT THAT DIDN’T CURB YOUR TEMPER

YOU NEVER EXPERIENCED DESTITUTION

YET STILL ENDED UP IN AN INSTITUTION

WITH YOUR GANG LASHING OUT

ACTING LIKE A THUG AND LOUT

DESTROYING PROPERTIES JUST FOR FUN

SHOWING NO REMORSE FOR WHAT YOU’D DONE

YOU SAID YOU DID THINGS WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG

THAT YOU BELIEVE YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE

BUT STILL YOU MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

EACH TIME THROWING MONEY TO BRIBE YOUR VICTIM

DRINKING, VOMITING ON AND TRASHING PROPERTY

BUT NOT AS A RESPONSE TO EXTREME POVERTY

YOU SAID THE RIOTS ARE ABOUT A CULTURE THAT DISRESPECTS AUTHORITY

DRAWING ON YOUR OWN FAILURE TO ACT PROPERLY

YOU SAID THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN DON’T CARE WHO THEY’RE WITH

I WONDER AFTER YOUR PARENTS FOUND OUT WHO YOU WERE WITH

THEY WERE ABLE TO FORGIVE?

HANGING AROUND WITH FELLOW THUGS OF YOUR BULLINGDON GANG

DID THEY DISCIPLINE YOU OR FORBID YOU TO HANG

WITH GEORGE AND BORIS IN YOUR GANGSTER PARADISE

DESTROYING BUSINESSES BEFORE THE OWNERS’ EYES

PERHAPS AS YOU ESCAPED PUNISHMENT AT THE TIME

YOU SHOULD BE EVICTED FROM NO.10 FOR YOUR CRIME

PERHAPS YOU OUGHT TO PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH AND RECEIVE A PRISON SENTENCE

PLEDGE YOUR REMORSE AND DEMONSTRATE YOUR REPENTANCE

YOU STATED THAT CHILDREN TODAY END UP IN GANGS THROUGH NEGLECT

SHAME ON YOUR PARENTS THAT YOUR CHILDHOOD WAS WRECKED

PERHAPS IF YOUR PARENTS HAD KEPT YOU AT HOME

INSTEAD OF FORCING YOU TO LIVE ALONE

YOU WOULDN’T HAVE COMMITTED THE VIOLENT CRIMES YOU DID

THEN WHEN THE POLICE CAME RAN AWAY AND HID

IT SEEMS YOUR BAD UPBRINGING LED TO A LIFE OF STEALING

TAKING TAX PAYERS MONEY FOR YOUR CONSERVATORY ROOF RESEALING

AND OTHER PROPERTY REPAIRS WHICH YOU AGREED TO REPAY

YET YOU CONTINUED THIEVING PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS AND PAY

YOUR LACK OF RESPECT FOR FAMILY VALUES

AND FAILURE TO COLLECT REVENUES

HAS LED TO MANY OF YOUR FRIENDS COMMITTING CRIME

AVOIDING AND FAILING TO PAY THEIR TAXES ON TIME

THIS HAS LED TO PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN YOU DESPISE

HAVING TO WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS JUST TO SURVIVE

YOU’VE BEEN TAXING THE POOR

TO PAY THE RICH MORE

SO MR CAMERON WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BREAKING THE LAW

PERHAPS YOU NEED TO LOOK FIRST TO YOUR OWN FRONT DOOR

Why black workers went on strike - Voice article by Zita Holbourne

Why black workers went on strike

Zita Holbourne, Co-chair of BARAC (Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts) and member of the Public and commercial services (PCS) union’s National Executive Committee, speaks her mind

Written By Zita Holbourne 02/06/2011

 

BLACK PUBLIC sector workers are on strike today (June 30) because the cuts to pensions, jobs and pay impact disproportionately on us.

The public sector is the biggest employment sector for black people and black women in particular because of the discrimination in the private sector meaning we don't even get a foot in the door.

In the public sector whilst we are highly concentrated, that concentration is in the lowest grades with the lowest salaries because of the discrimination we face in appraisal, promotion and progression. It is these lower grade jobs that will bear the brunt of the cuts.

The pay gap between black and white workers which the last government was supposed to close is widening and the pay freeze in the Civil Service is a pay cut in real terms, taking into account the rise in the cost of living. Many black workers will have to claim the very benefits some of them administer in the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) because their salaries are so low.

The proposed changes to pensions meaning that we are expected to work longer to receive a pension and pay in more will also have a harder impact on black workers. Black people live in the poorest communities and receive the lowest incomes – twice as many black and minority ethnic children live in poverty in comparison with their white counterparts. The poorer you are the lower your life expectancy meaning that many black workers will not even benefit from their full pension once retired. The average civil service pension is £80 a week and less than half the national minimum wage.

The cuts that Civil Servants, Teachers and Lecturers are taking strike action over tomorrow are part of a wider attack by the con-dem coalition which is not just impacting on us at work but as service users, our families and communities.

The cuts to the public sector have a knock on effect on the voluntary sector with cuts to funding meaning that organisations providing specialised services that black people rely on in their local communities will no longer be available.

The cuts to EMA and tripling of tuition fees will mean that black students cannot afford to gain further education which in turn has a knock on impact on their future career prospects, standard of living and the black economy.
Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK was founded by myself and Lee Jasper to respond to the disproportionate impact of cuts on black communities, service users and workers. BARAC is a key part of the PCS campaign against the discrimination of cuts. We are supporting the strikes tomorrow under the banner of ‘No to Cuts, No to Racism, Everybody Out’.

It is essential that we stand together against every cut because they are all part of the same agenda. We call on the public and the black public in particular to support the strikes by visiting picket lines and attending the rallies and marches across the UK because we are not just fighting for our jobs, pay and pensions, we are fighting against all cuts and all cuts impact on every single one of us. If teachers are cut and civil servants are cut it impacts on our children in schools and colleges and the services we depend on.

In addition, as housing and jobs are cut the far right will blame black people and accuse us of taking housing and jobs and this is another key reason why we must fight the racism of cuts as it is not just about the disproportionate impact.

PCS is one of the unions representing civil service and other public sector staff.

Zita Holbourne

(From: The Voice   http://www.the-voice.co.uk  02/06/2011)