European Public Sector Unions Welcome Refugees & Migrants to Europe

Our chair Zita Holbourne spoke in her role as National Vice President of PCS Union, at a conference organised by European public sector unions in Palermo, Sicily on 28th September, you can watch her speech below and read her article on the PCS website.

Read here

The conference agreed a statement (below), which Zita contributed to and a network to welcome migrants to Europe, oppose racism & stand for properly resourced public services responding to the needs of refugees and migrants.


Zita Holbourne speaking at EU Care conference

Statement;


Proposal for a statement by FPCGIL e CCOO
European solidarity? A European network of public service workers to welcome migrants

Migration is a global, social and economic phenomenon. Migration has existed since the beginning of time, it has benefit socially and economically.  It cannot be dealt only as if it were an emergency and a security issue, as it has been the case until now, but as a structural phenomenon that involves the whole European Union and across the world and will continue to do so.
Without a common coherent, solidarity and human rights framework, the ad-hoc  security-based approach to migration at national and EU level contributes to fear and causes racism and xenophobia.
Racism is real. In the last few months in Italy and many other European countries we have witnessed a resurgence of racism, outburst of verbal and physical violence involving fascist and populist right wing groups but also ordinary people victim of fears and insecurity who are led to believe that migrants are the enemy to persecute, insult,  and reject. Those who hold racist views feeling emboldened to express them and carry out racist and xenophobic abuse and hate crimes.
The European Union cannot be conceived of as a mosaic of national borders: the Mediterranean countries form the southern frontier of the European Union and carry out activities for the EU in the field of migration processes to promote reception and integration. These are important activities that involve all public sectors: from health to local and central governement, including civil servants,  to rescue at sea, from security to social services, as well as processing of asylum claims and related services, local social services, housing, training, promoting  integration in the labour market and society.
It is fundamental to understand that workers in those services are European,  far beyond that of a single nationality; their fundamental, transnational job is to welcome and integrate migrants on behalf of the whole of Europe.
Until now, their national isolation, a lack of adequate resources and investment and the need to always work in emergency situations have created stressful working conditions and objective problems. This means that the work being done does not always meet the needs of the citizens concerned.
Indeed, the key issue of staff shortages throughout Europe, due to the economical crisis approach,  in particular in the public services dealing with the reception, care and integration of the newcomers, and the absence of a common European policy, are ignored for squalid political and electoral reasons.
To build a European sense of solidarity that can accommodate and manage migration in a qualitatively adequate manner, creating a structured and coherent system, a single one for the whole Union, it is necessary to develop common standards and tools to allow all public workers in the Union, whatever their country of origin, to work in the same direction. In particular, this must go through in changing the Dublin Rules that have burdened the countries of the southern frontier disproportionately.
We agree with EPSU calling for an EU-wide relocation system based on social, economic criteria of host countries as well as preferences and language and family connections of newcomers concerned.
It is also necessary to place at the centre of the political debate the importance of the role played by the public institutions, at national and local level, the working conditions of workers who deal with the reception of migrants and the search for solutions that allow a genuine system of integration, based on the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, ‘International standards for refugees and migrant workers’ rights (i.e. UN Conventions, as the UN 1951 Refugee Convention and Core Human Rigths Conventions of the UN, including the one on migrant workers and ILO conventions) as well as  the national constitutions.
Appropriate resources must be allocated by the Union to increase the budget for migratory issues which, on the one hand, take into account the dignity and rights of the migrants and, on the other, invest in and enhance the work of all workers dealing with migrants in  cooperatives, NGOs, public administrations that should all be working within a public sector ethos, developing a fundamental role of integration and defending the democratic values of the European Union.
Further, the public security services of the various states working at the borders must guarantee the respect of human rights of newcomers and be able to work in a safe and healthy working environment. In this sense it is necessary to respond to the needs of the security forces members. Governments must therefore provide sufficient technical and human resources, qualified training, relevant to the work done by people working in this sector; there is no doubt that if police personell and other security workers do not operate safely, they can hardly guarantee the security and safety of others.
In our view, relaunching EU safe channels for regular migration are essential to  guarantee security and legality as well as reducing so-called irregular migration, the consequences of which are often conditions of widespread illegality and the exploitation of migrants at work. Furthermore, stopping the migrant smuggling industry is a goal that the European Union is quite capable of.
Furthermore, the creation of humanitarian channels, for all those fleeing wars (conflict, poverty, persecution, climate change) and inhumane conditions, could avoid the terrible escalation of deaths at sea which in recent months has seen a terrifying increase as recently reported by UNHCR.
As a European public service delegation underlined at a meeting in Melilla on 13 and 14 June last, “It is at the basis of the values of the Union to ensure the saving of lives and the protection of asylum rights and this has to be a central element of reception policies.”
As public workers’ unions, we therefore believe that to build and support these demands it is necessary to create a European network of reception workers, and for this reason we ask our European Union Federation, EPSU, to support this call and help connect all workers in Europe who are operating in the migration area to encourage decent reception and a human-right based approach to migration. We invite other unions affiliated to EPSU representing those workers to join the network and to build a powerful voice to represent our interests towards the EU institutions (Parliament, Council and Commission).
Through this virtuous connection it will be possible, building upon the European trade union meetings in Melilla and Palermo, to exchange important shared experiences that might initiate a dialogue in Europe with the institutions.
The aim is to achieve at least adequate “EU legal minimum social standards” including through European sectoral and cross-sectoral social dialogue, to give much more emphasis on the importance of the work in public services dealing with reception and to overcome the difficulties of workers.
The European network of reception workers can also be a means to strengthen the role of public service unions internationally as key stakeholders in promoting access of migrants to basic services, a commitment stipulated in the United Nations Global Compact on Migration agreed last July, and underlined by the PSI, our global union federation.
The network should also aim to influence the European elections in May 2019, asking the progressive political forces to defend in their programmes the need for humane response of migration and quality of public services, also as an extraordinary antidote to the re-emergence of fascism, racism and xenophobia. (European citizens, even those who are frightened by the migratory phenomenon, has to understand that adequate welcoming and integration of migrants has unavoidable costs and should support to invest economical resources for this aim.) cfdt
We know well that in Europe there is a general situation of crisis and social injustice, of a failure to satisfy human rights, not the least at work, and there are those who use and exploit the fears and uncertainties of ever broader social categories, accentuating dangerous divisions between workers and citizens.
We also know well that the European Union is based on strong values so it is necessary to mobilize citizens and cultural, philosophical and militant  forces.
We know well where this road can lead and we cannot stand and watch. We all have to affirm strongly: no to racism and xenophobia, yes to human security, and yes to a quality reception through public services and public work.

BARAC Chair, Zita Holbourne, elected Vice President of PCS Union

We at BARAC UK wish to congratulate the Co- Founder and  our National Chair, Zita Holbourne, on her successful election as  Vice President of the Public & Commercial Services (PCS) Union.

Our work has been furthered by the solidarity work we have done with the trade movement to challenge austerity and it's affects on  the Black community and workers.

Most of this work has been greatly advanced by Zita's tireless work and we are proud that her union members have also acknowledged her tireless work in defending their interests in electing her to serve as their Vice President. 

Donna Guthrie

BARAC UK National Women's Officer 

Letter to EHRC from Race Equality Orgs : sacking of black staff

                     

David Isaacs CBE
Chair
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London EC4Y 8JX 3 March 2017

Dear David Isaac,

It is with sincere regret that we feel obliged to write to you about the decline in the number of BAME staff at the Commission.

It has come to our attention that the number of BAME staff - especially visible minorities - has been declining for several years without any serious attempt to halt or reverse it.

We understand that twelve members of staff were selected for compulsory redundancy. Only two of the twelve staff are White British. Eight are from a BAME background, four are Muslim, six are disabled.  Apparently, seven of the twelve members of staff were unceremoniously ‘sacked’ by email on 9 February and told their last day would be 10 February.

We further understand there are no visible minorities amongst the senior management team. The only one Black director, who was on the team, was among the twelve workers who were made redundant.  We also understand that all but two of your remaining BAME workers are in the lowest three grades.

We consider this a matter of grave concern.

The legacy commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, possessed a unique racial justice acumen shaped by its diverse workforce at every level and in all departments. We believe if the Commission is not similarly diverse, it will lose credibility, authority and legitimacy with the public.

In our opinion, it is not satisfactory or acceptable simply to say the percentage of BAME workers reflects the percentage in the national population and especially not with main offices in London and Manchester. But this is not just about numbers: the personal experiences and viewpoints, which a diverse workforce brings, are essential if the Commission is to challenge the majority or mainstream beliefs. In a climate of rising levels of racist and Islamophobic attacks and where the majority opinion in GB seems to be anti-immigrant, anti-Black and anti-Muslim, then it is even more important that the Commission’s staff can stand firm against prevailing views. We believe this means recruiting a larger percentage than that in the national population - or even the local population where that is higher than the national figure.

Also worrying is the assessment of these workers as having no skills. Some of them were at the forefront of maintaining good relations in times of heightened racial tensions during periods of riots, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, and the 7/7 terror attacks. Such an assessment disregards the value of this work and their commitment to the protection and promotion of equality and human rights. (Presumably, it is a specification for working at the Commission that employees have a demonstrable understanding of discrimination and good relations?).

On a personal front, BAME workers are only too painfully aware of discrimination, racism and social injustice. You are unlikely to know the individuals, but each one will have a personal history of struggle, obstacles and racism. Yet, the Commission has effectively told them they have no skills to hold a job with it and their experiences have been dismissed with the cold despatch of an email.

We realise the Commission’s website says it plans to address any under-representation with positive action measures. This has been the Commission’s answer to the decline in the number of BAME staff since 2011/12 when the numbers started to fall dramatically. Yet, as far as we are aware, the Commission has never used positive action measures, despite its assurances to do so.

But, more importantly, we do not consider that BAME staff or job applicants lack the skills for a position at the Commission or that positive action is necessary to equip them with the necessary skills. Given the nature of the work, we think it is, quite frankly, an insult to suggest that they lack the skills. The Commission had BAME senior professionals, lawyers and directors but almost all have gone. And we believe it will be difficult to recruit BAME staff with this poor history as it doesn’t inspire confidence or respect.

Whilst we’ve welcomed your recent statements on race hate crime, we do not believe you can or should speak for our communities. And whilst you might consult us as stakeholders, we also want to see our communities represented amongst your workforce - and not just in lower grades. Until we see progress in this area, you risk losing our trust and confidence.

We take this opportunity to remind you that the Paris Principles on the status and functions of national human rights bodies require such bodies to be ‘established in accordance with a procedure which affords all necessary guarantees to ensure the pluralist representation of the social forces (of civilian society) involved in the protection and promotion of human rights.’ The Principles also require them to work with others ‘to combat racism, to protect particularly vulnerable groups (especially children, migrant workers, refugees, physically and mentally disabled persons)...’

Unfortunately, we doubt whether the Commission can meet these obligations.

We were also appalled by the brutal manner by which the Commission terminated the contracts of those made redundant on 9 February. We understand they were served with redundancy notices by email while they were on strike - a strike called by the trades unions - and told the next day would be their last day. Trade union rights are protected human rights. And the requirement for ‘pluralist representation’ includes trades union representation.

This behaviour must be unprecedented for any employer. But, we rightly expect more from the Commission than other employer. But, even if the Commission followed a lawful process, we still expect a fair and compassionate process - to do what’s morally right, not just what is lawful.

We would like to conclude by affirming our support for a strong and effective national equality and human rights body which is diverse at all levels - and not just in terms of race but other characteristics. (We are also worried by a similar decline in the number of disabled and older staff).

Sadly, we now have serious doubts about the Commission’s credibility, authority and legitimacy with our communities.

We would welcome an opportunity to discuss our concerns with you in a meeting.

Finally, please kindly note other organisations share our concerns but they were unable to sign at this time.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Herman Ouseley
Hanef Bhamjee, OBE, Secretary, Action for Southern Africa –Wales
Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya, University of East London, UCU Black Members' Standing Committee
Peter Herbert, Society of Black Lawyers
Michael McEachrane, PhD, co-founder of IDPAD Coalition UK
BARAC UK
Blacksox
GMB Regional Equality Forum
Momentum Black Caucus
Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council
Operation Black Vote
Race Equality Matters (REM)
Wellingborough Black Consortium




Please reply to:
REM
c/o Coral Rose
8-9 Frith St
London W1D 3JB
email: raceequalitymatters@hotmail.com

Report on BARAC Humanitarian Aid April distribution in Calais ; Thank you for your support

BARAC's most recent humanitarian aid and solidarity visit to Calais took place last weekend.

Just a few weeks after our March distribution even more of the 'camp' had been bulldozed and cleared. An area near the art school which we had visited in March which was full of tents and structures and families living was beyond recognition.

Our transport and travel in April was sponsored by ASLEF the Train Drivers union to whom we are very grateful.

ASLEF has also donated to our Go Fund Me also towards aid.

We have just received sponsorship for our next distribution travel and transport by Global Justice Now. Our thanks to Director Nick Deardon. 

We are delighted that this year's TUC Black Workers Conference raised £1500 for BARAC Humanitarian Aid through its annual fundraising dance and a motion at the conference moved by the Public and Commercial Services Union called on affiliates and the TUC to support humanitarian aid efforts such as BARAC's,  The motion was carried unanimously. 

Our travel across the channel was not without the usual racial profiling and scrutiny by border authorities.  In the past we have been stopped and searched, delayed, detained, police checked, asked if we are the same people coming back as went out, told that if we are let into France we could get to Turkey and cross the border to Syria.

On this occasion we were asked if we had any 'knives or weapons'. When we responded that we did not, our vehicle was searched with particular scrutiny and attention given to sanitary towels we were taking for women in the camp.  Presumably this is where they thought we kept the knives and weapons. 

As if that was not bad enough, our driver, Hector Wesley, the only black man in our team on this occasion was body scanned. 

No other vehicles received such scrutiny and nobody else was body scanned.

On the way back our vehicle was searched and the authorities searched under my legs to see if I had hidden somebody there.

Police barriers surrounded all entrances to the camp.

As we entered the Eritrean church was like an oasis in a desert. The  burned out frameworks of  structures and items scattered across the earth that were there just a few weeks ago were now gone. 

Despite there being very few tents around, we  decided to distribute some food to the people staying near to the church and there was soon a line. Some young boys asked us for footballs and biscuits.

We distributed at two points, near the church and near the art school. We took food for communities in the camp in bulk form and also made up packs of essential items, toiletries and food.  We had packs for children with books, toys and snacks and baby and women's products. 

After our first distribution, we visited the school where English and French lessons for adults were taking place. We met with some people who were volunteering at the school and gave them the children's packs to distribute for  when children attended during the week.

We then visited the art school and took some supplies and met with some artists based in the camp and looked at the art they had produced.  

We distributed our second lot of aid and then went to the Women's Centre to take feminine hygiene products.

After that we visited with some young Sudanese brothers who welcomed us with kind hospitality, bringing us chairs  and making us coffee. We spoke with them at length about their experiences, their journeys to get to France through several countries and for some the journey had taken years,  some had lost their parents and  when we told them about the work of BARAC in the UK in campaigning against injustice and racism they told us that they would like to join us when they got to the UK which of course we very much welcomed.  Ironically for one of the young brothers we spoke with,  before leaving his home, his job had been supporting refugees,  not expecting that he himself would become a refugee.  One young man told me that my headwrap was the exact same print his mother wore and that she even tied hers the same way.  Most of the  people we have met over the past several months in Calais are young enough to be our children and myself and other women in our team have reminded them of their mothers. 

Over the past few months we have distributed our aid with our sisters and brothers stuck in the 'camp' , the lead brother

coordinating from the camp is Samer who ran the library and other community projects.  Each time I leave I say to him see you next time but next time I really hope you are no longer here and it was too our joy to discover a few days before from Samer that he was now in the UK. We wish Samer all the luck in the world and a positive new start and look forward to meeting up with him in more positive circumstances. We thank him for his community spirit in supporting and helping others. 

To support our humanitarian aid work you can donate here  or directly to BARAC. We are also seeking sponsors for transport and travel and you can take items to our drop off point at PCS HQ.

Contact us at barac.info@gmail.com for further info.

Thank you to all who have supported our sisters and brothers stuck in limbo to date.

Zita Holbourne

National Co-Chair BARAC UK

Report on BARAC humanitarian aid visit to Calais and Dunkirk, March 2016

Since Summer 2015 BARAC has been coordinating humanitarian convoys and taking solidarity and aid to refugees in Calais and more recently Dunkirk.

Saturday 12th of March was our most recent visit, we were blessed to be accompanied by The Black Fathers Support Group who brought much needed essentials and food and played a key role in distributing aid on the day.

We were also joined by Ray Rakaba, Documentary Film Maker, who made a film of our first solidarity and  fact finding visit to Calais. Our transport and travel was sponsored by the CWU union and the CWU staff branch of GMB for which we are truly grateful. Our thanks also go to the PCS union for providing a drop off and storage point for donations and booking our transport.

Our key coordinating team for humanitarian work consists of Hector Wesley, BARAC National Steering Group, Donna Guthrie, BARAC National Women's Officer, my son  and myself,  but we are joined by different volunteers on each visit from  BARAC, other black community organisations and the wider community.

Each distribution has its own challengers from Border Control and police delaying and questioning us to adverse weather and break downs but what ever the challenge we meet our key objective of taking much needed food, toiletries and essentials - responding to the cultural, dietary, religious and gender needs of those in the 'camps'.

This distribution was no different. We were questioned about the nature of our visit to France by Border officials having watched the car full of people in front of our vehicles being waved through without so much as looking at their passports, we  faced racist negative stereotyping from another volunteer and then several lots of police barriers blocking our entrance into the Calais shanty town, followed by hostility, difficulties in reaching our contacts in the 'camp'  and barring of aid at the Dunkirk camp.

It took a long time, driving around before we eventually found an entry point into the Calais shanty town that police did not block our entrance to. Ironically we were allowed to enter by police via what used to be the South Side of the 'camp'  before it was demolished by French authorities accompanied by riot police just over a week earlier.

What used to be a space homing thousands of refugees in fragile structures, complete with make shift cafes, shops, places of worship, a class room and a library was now a post- apocalyptic smouldering waste land of asbestos infested mud land.  Embedded in the uneven ground were items people were forced to leave behind in their haste to reach a place of safety in the face of the brutal demolition of their temporary living spaces.

Here and there were people searching through the mud for items lost.  In the distance we spotted a team in white coats combing the area.

In the midst of this sea of  mud and lost items was an oasis - the church and library still standing, inside the church was serene, clean and orderly,  in stark contrast to its surroundings. Outside a young woman we knew from the Eritrean cafe  which served as an eatery and resting place for young Eritrean, Sudanese and Ethiopian women and men, was using an outside grill to make tea and food for the few refugees remaining in the area.

A few months back we had brought clothing, African hair products and cooking equipment for the people using this place, now it no longer existed.

Before the demolition 

After the demolition

Even though we had seen all the reports of the demolition nothing could have prepared us for what greeted us.  We had difficulty meeting the brothers and sisters, refugees who usually work with us to do our distributions because nothing and nobody was where they used to be and places we could have driven to before could not be reached.

We stopped near the art school which being over the other side of the shanty town had not yet been targeted by  the authorities for demolition.  A young brother invited me into the art school to see the latest art and his own skilled work creating sandals out of rubber tyres. Several people stopped to speak with us and asked us for clothes. Many people had lost their clothes when the south side of the 'camp' was destroyed - we had brought a range of clothes but had dropped these to the warehouse for sorting and distribution. We regretted not bringing it with us to give to the people there who needed it so they would not have to wait.

We had brought a mixture of individual packs with essentials, food and toiletries as well as traditional foods for the community kitchens but due to the destruction of the camp the community kitchens were not running as usual. We distributed what we had brought at two points and were helped in organising and managing queues by refugees as usual.

After leaving Calais we went straight to Dunkirk, keeping a few items to take there only as we had been told that the officials running the new government camp were not allowing aid to be brought in - in stark contrast to our visit to the old Dunkirk camp weeks before where essentials and food were desperately needed.

Before going to the new Dunkirk camp we went to the old camp - at a glance you might think it was still in use as tents, essentials, clothes had all been left behind on the advice of the authorities in an attempt to prevent any disease spreading to the new camp.

It was surprise therefore, given that people had had to leave everything behind that same week that we were told that nothing could be taken to those inside the new government camp.

It was like the end of time at the old camp - as if all civilisation had been wiped out suddenly leaving or like a city that was hastily evacuated.

At the new camp we were not allowed to drive in but were told by security stationed at the door that we could park and go in.  We were banned from taking in the few items we wanted to give as gifts to children and women as we had been warned.  No explanation was offered for this refusal.

The security guard said we could leave the items with him until we returned and made us sign in one by one  registering our names and organisations. He told us that people there did not need any aid as they received a hot meal every day. There was no mention of what they ate or drank during the rest of the day. He told us that the class room was not yet open so we could not take the educational items for children in, although we saw lots of children playing around the camp who we felt would have welcomed the items we had if they had been given a chance.  A class room is important but it is not the only way that children can appreciate books.

The new Dunkirk camp was in stark contrast to the old,  Solid structures made of wood housed families in neat rows in  place of flimsy tents soaked in mud, damaged by adverse weather.   There were leisure activities and mobile phone points. I  managed to take in some toiletries in my bag which was not noticed by the Security Guard and gave these to some women and young girls I met.

An Irish volunteer informed us that aid was banned only if people from Britain were offering it and that French people were allowed to bring aid. I asked him why. He said that those running the camp did not like British people. He advised us on a place we could drop the items off nearby to be brought in by authorised volunteers later on.

We spotted a fast food van with a sign announcing that chips would be served at 6.30pm.  It wasn't clear if this was just an optional snack or the evening meal.

On our way out what he had said became very apparent as I spotted some French women carrying some of the kitchen utensils we had been made to leave outside.

I asked her what she was doing with them given we had been banned from bringing them in. She explained that she was taking them to the kitchens and that she had been allowed to take them in because she was French. She advised us in future to hide items in rucksacks, pointing to her own back and 'smuggle them in'.

Our next distribution will be in a few weeks time.

If you would like to support our humanitarian work you can do this in a number of ways.

You can sponsor or co-sponsor our transport and travel to France, contact us directly barac.info@gmail.com  and make a payment directly to BARAC.

You can donate  to our GoFundMe account  - you contribution will go directly towards food, toiletries and essential items for refugees in France.  DONATE HERE

You can drop off essential items, tinned  / non perishable food, clothing, camping equipment etc to us at PCS union HQ, Clapham Junction, London, addressed to Zita Holbourne, C/O Harvey Jacobs.

Refugees, Migration and Climate Change - support us to support our sisters and brothers in Calais

New Year Greetings from BARAC UK 

We are starting the year by  once again returning to Calais  taking food and essential items to our sisters and brothers  who are having to contend with harsh winter conditions, fires and threats of removal from the shanty town they find themselves in after long and hard journeys escaping dangers to get there. 

PLEASE DONATE HERE

We appreciate your support with previous donations of items and money. 

We are also grateful to the Public and Commercial Services Union who are sponsoring our transport and travel to Calais so that all the funds we raise will go directly towards food and essential items and to all those who have worked with us to raise money and donate items and products.

We know that distributing aid is not the solution for those stuck in Calais and camps around Europe so we must combine this with political campaigning regarding the root of war, persecution, poverty and climate change. 

Last month our Co-Chair Zita Holbourne spoke at the Paris Climate Change conference about the links between climate change, migration and refugees. 

You can read her full speech here; http://blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/zita-holbourne-speaking-at-paris.html and watch  the majority of it here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFjlawym6-k.

In November Zita joined a delegation from the London Interfaith Network, visiting Calais in solidarity and met Maria Ishtiaq.  Since this visit to Calais, Maria has been working to raise funds and purchase essential items, below is a message from Maria about the important of coming together and supporting our sisters and brothers:

In November of last year, I was fortunate enough to visit the refugee camp in Calais; I journeyed with the sole expectation of seeing victims, broken people who had given up all hope. Instead I found what I believe to be the most truly resilient members of our society. The fact that they had developed a whole community from the literal dump that they were thrown into is beyond comprehension... they had built shops, houses, churches and mosques from nothing but a few logs of wood and plastic tarp!

Having said that, the sanitary conditions there were despicable and with winter coming, the refugees were contemplating whether they would be able to survive the cold. 

Before even having returned to the UK, I had the intention to go back soon with supplies... I was lucky enough to have met some wonderful individuals whom I wholeheartedly believed to be deserving of the simple asylum they sought; remember these are not immigrants, they actually have no-one and nothing else to go back to. There are even children with no families with them, 'unaccompanied minors' as they are referred to!

Unfortunately the day after I returned from the camp, terror struck at the heart of France and my mother was no longer comfortable with me returning to the camp so soon after. However, I did not let this dampen my determination to help the people of 'The Jungle' (as the media refers to the refugee camp), instead I set my mind to raising money in order to purchase winter wear and other essential items to send via Zita and the other wonderful people at BARAC UK. I was able to raise almost £350 through friends and family and this was used along with funds of my own to buy thermal hats, scarves, gloves, socks and sleeping bags as well as various toiletries to be distributed amongst the refugees.

This is an ongoing issue in which I would urge everyone to get involved; this is not a Muslim issue, or a Christian issue, or a Jewish issue... this is an issue of basic humanity. Please help your brothers and sisters. 

Maria Ishtiaq

Our thanks go to Maria, Lush and Newham Book Shop for their support and donations but we need more support.  

There are two key ways in which you can support:

1. donate to our GoFundMe:  https://www.gofundme.com/nvbvy8qc

2. drop essential items to our distribution point at PCS HQ,

Please email is: barac.info@gmail.com for details and to let us know what items you have first. 

Items needed include: blankets, warm waterproof coats, thermal socks, thermal hats, gloves, scarves, thermal vests and undewear, emergency blankets, 2 to 3 people tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulin, tent pegs, fire extinguishers, hoodies, fleeces, rain coats, sanitary towels, large cooking pots and utensils, large plastic storage containers with lids, toiletries including African hair and skin products such as coconut oil and cocoa  / shea butter, cornmeal flour, dried fish, wheat flour, seasonings, water, oil, tinned beans and pulses, rice, tea, coffee, sugar, long life milk. 

We will also take some fresh fruit and vegetables as people don't get enough access to fresh produce but these will need to be purchased the day before.

We will need to receive any items and donations by 28th of January at the latest.  

. 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Best Wishes 

Zita Holbourne speaking at Paris Climate Change Conference; on Migration, Refugees and Climate Change

Zita Holbourne; PCS

Migration, Refugees and Climate Change

What Trade Union Response?


Watch first ten minutes of the speech here

Some people are forced to spend their entire lives as climate change refugees – people of the Solomon Islands are one example.

Extreme weather, drought and floods have led in part to the migration to European countries from the Middle East and African Continent.

If we don’t address the issues of climate and global warning there will be increased refugees heading towards Europe and other parts of the globe. Not out of choice but because they have no choice.

We have seen increasing demonisation and labelling of migrants and  refugees as benefit tourists and economic migrants coming to steal jobs and responsible for lack of housing and jobs and services by governments with no consideration for the effects of climate change. Wednesday was the UN day for the abolition of slavery but Western governments are fast to forget their colonial pasts, stripping resources from many of the countries most impacted by climate change.

For the past 3 months I have been involved in coordinating and organising aid distributions in Calais.

The so called Jungle in Calais is not a camp – it is a shanty town where people live in inhumane conditions:

30 or so toilets for around 5000 people, 2 showers, inadequate clean water,  dealing with climate issues right there as high winds and storms and heavy rains destroy tents and camping structures – made of tree branches, twigs and tarpaulin / plastic sheets,  Having no mains electricity supply mean that people are walking 2 to 3 hours to collect fire wood, making fires to cook and for heat, using candles for light in the evenings and dependent on generators and gas cylinders – this has led to frequent fires- often very bad – destroying everything they have – including documents and personal items.

Illness is spreading due to inadequate conditions, lack of hot food etc and if you look at the countries those there and in other camps across Europe they are from countries impacted by the effects of climate.

Sudanese make up the majority of people in Calais – 60% - Sudan is the largest African country – arid land and desert impact on food due to climate impact on agriculture – one of the most vulnerable countries to drought in the world.

Syria has had several droughts meaning that people have to leave farmland / rural areas to overcrowded cities.

Other groups include Ethiopians and Eritreans and Iranians who have also experienced drought. Afghanistans are the second biggest community there,  cold winters and hot summers, droughts and floods has led to loss of crops with  6.7 million Afghans impacted by  disasters and extreme weather  between 1998 and 2012.

In turn the countries most responsible for climate change are usually the ones rejecting, demonising and labelling those fleeing its effects.

The countries most responsible for historical emissions from 1850 to 2007 are in order

USA 28.8%
China 9.0
Russia 8.0
Germany
UK, Japan, France, India, Canada, Ukraine

Consumption footprints – from import /export of goods put Belgium at the top with 21.99%, followed by USA 20.2, Ireland 16.2, Finland, 15.1, Australia 13.8, UK, 11.5

Principally it is the the developed world that creates the conditions for climate change

Emissions per person

Luxemburg 1429 tons UK 1127, US 1126, Belgium 1026, Czech 1006 followed by other mainly Western countries

Migrants and refugees from the poorest countries contribute little to the causes of climate change in turn suffer disproportionately from its effects.

Higher temperatures and heavier rainfall cause drought and floods, this in turn leads to greater food and water insecurity, deepening poverty and furthering social inequality.

This leads to mass migration, displacement, conflict and millions are forced to move in order to survive.

Human instinct is to survive, human beings have been migrating since the beginning of time.  When those in the West move to other countries they are ex-pats and seen as acceptable, legitimate and respectable, whilst stigmas and hatred are attached to those from poorer countries, not moving as a choice as those in the West usually do, but because they have no choice.

Climate change also threatens rights – rights to safe adequate water and food, access to health services and housing - this has a knock on impact on child poverty and deepens race and gender discrimination and inequality.

Economic instability means opportunities and rights are reduced.

Governments, trade unions and civil society have a responsibility to address and minimise the consequences for human beings of rapid global warming.

We need equitable, just and binding agreements with developed countries acting first and financing for climate change initiatives plus
Adaptation of strategies for capacity building and research.

Social inequality created by the effects of climate change must be addressed as all other social inequality should be.

We need to look at the link to austerity and cuts because there is one.  Economic instability combined with climate change impacts on the poorest but also in times of austerity racism increases and the far right grows as we have seen across Europe.  Racism and islamophobia is deepening every day – I have experienced and witnessed this first hand as an anti racist, equality and justice campaigner. So if you are a migrant / refugee who is black, a person of colour or Muslim you face an added level of discrimination and attack.

An issue for those seeking asylum or a new home and new start in a safe place is that they are not recognised legally as refugees if they are migrating because of climate change.

1951 Geneva Convention regarding the status of refugees says you must prove fear of persecution. The 1950 European Convention on Human Rights says it is not legally possible to apply for asylum from outside the country so for all those refugees in Calais, stuck in limbo between France and the UK, the only chance they have is to risk their lives every night trying to get on trains and in trucks - many have died and even more have serious injuries and disabilities from their attempts to get to the UK.

Those fleeing climate change do not meet the legal definition of refugee.

The UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency says that camps should be the exception for those in forced displacement and they should be permitted to exercise their rights and freedoms.

In Calais there is not even a refugee camp in the proper sense - just a makeshift shanty town on asbestos infested waste land and refugees are frequently brutalised by police in an attempt to keep them boxed into this land.

The UN  says that there should be links to host communities with access to the local economy and infrastructure and service delivery to live peacefully without harassment.

Complete opposite is true in Calais – last month a high court ruled that the Calais authority must provide adequate toilet facilities and collect refuge – it is charities on the ground like L’auberge, and secour catholique together with individual voluntary groups such as my own org BARAC UK that are provided food, essentials, volunteers to sort the warehouse of donations, distribute, clean and build.

There is a gap in international law in terms of protection for climate change migrants who would need to characterise climate change as persecution. Extreme weather is harmful but does not generally meet the high threshold of persecution and they have to identify a persecutor – could be argued that developed countries, industrialised countries or the international community is the persecutor.

But they still have to meet the criteria of persecution being due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, social group etc.

Climate change does not distinguish but does impact disproportionately – more likely to be black, people of colour, indigenous.

There is an impact on human rights and the right to life, right to adequate standard of living, food, clothing, and housing are all impacted.

For those who have got through the system but are rejected and facing removal they have to show they will be removed to a place of torture, inhumane or degrading treatment, physical or mental suffering.

Refugees in Calais are all suffering from post traumatic stress due to the war, poverty or persecution they fled in the first place and in addition the journey they endured, dangerous, exhausting and frightening – many I spoke had survived the Mediterranean on perilous terrifying journeys and have lost their families, parents – mostly young 18 to 24 and many unaccompanied minors.

 But despite this the level of severity required in article 3 is difficult to prove.





Trade Union Response

Things unions can do:

Lobby governments

Work with orgs supporting refugees and support them

Fight racism and islamphobia

Include refugees and migrants in policies, strategies and campaigns on climate change, anti austerity and anti racism/ anti fascism work.

Lobby and strengthen human rights and immigration laws – campaign against racist immigration laws such as the UK Immigration Act which seeks to create an apartheid state -

Recent landlord pilot – means not only those who are actually migrants but those perceived to be because of name or colour will be rejected for housing or exploited – I am part of the Movement of Xenophobia and one of the organisations that form MAX,  JCWI, research identified threatening, rogue landlords would exploit migrants with a disproportionate impact on women – asked to perform sexual favours and threatened with reporting to the home office if they go to the police.

In addition because landlords are expected to be immigration police and check papers, if papers are with the home office then they can’t access housing.

But not just housing, access to other services, such as driving licences, NHS, medical services, marriage license are more.  Impact on students from abroad.

So support for migrants and refugees should not stop when they get asylum, because the labelling, demonisation, discrimination and disadvantage continues.

Form trade union policy on this internationally, regionally and nationally.

Support orgorganisations like my own taking aid to refugees - BARAC and MAX campaigning on issues like the immigration act.  Most of us have little or no funding at all – another impact of austerity and rely on people power – I am proud my union does this and is affiliated to both orgs,  example:  PCS has been  sponsoring our  aid  distribution travel and transport to Calais.

Put pressure on govs to provide humane faculties for refugees and camps.

Its winter and many could die – this is about humanity. Humanity and equality should be at the heart of our union movement.

Countries like the UK who are agreeing to woefully low numbers of asylum seekers need to be lobbied and shamed.

Speak about these issues to your union members. We know that our memberships represent a cross section of society – some of them will hold racist, biased, negative views about refugees and blame and scapegoat fuelled by government and media narrative.

We have a responsibility to provide a counter narrative and educate, mobilise and organise from a position of truth  on an ongoing basis and also to form policy through our democratic structures – model motions, articles, briefings all help.

This week Indigenous Peoples released a joint statement to the UN talks.

Extract; World leaders in Paris must lead us away from the commodification of mother earth which places our lives and future on an unstable foundation based on money greed and power.

I support their position, Western countries that have benefited and profited from colonial rule, Empire, enslavement, taken from African, Asian, Latin American, Indigenous etc people now seek to bar and block the descendents of those people after they have stripped them of everything. They have a collective responsibility to act.

Climate Change will continue to displace people and so it's totally outrageous to then demonize and ostracise the victims and blame them.

Those nations that hold the most power and privilege cannot be allowed to create a climate of fear racism and displacement and must be held accountable and stand up to their responsibilities.

Trade Unions have a key role in holding them to account but also ensuring these issues are on the agenda when working and campaigning on Climate Change.

Zita Holbourne, PCS Union National Executive, BARAC National Co-Chair

4 December 2015, Le Bourget Climate Change Conference, COP21, Paris