Unite celebrates black tradeunionists and their contribution to

race equality in the labourmovement

BLACKHISTORYMONTH

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 1

2

Black people have been involved in radicalstruggles for centuries and among them weremany trade union activists. Recorded examples goback as early as 18th century.

William Davidson(1781-1820) one of the first tradeunionists in Britain wassecretary of theshoemaker’s union. Hebecame involved in thedemand for parliamentaryreform in Scotland.

Davidson and his comrades fought againstthe slave-like conditions people in Britainworked in.

William Cuffay(1788-1870)born in Chatham, adisabled trade unionist andthe son of a slave, WilliamCuffay, became a leadingfigure in the Chartistmovement, whichcampaigned for universalvoting rights. He wassacked for joining a unionand striking, and found itdifficult to get work after

that, but continued campaigning. He chairedthe committee which organised the 1848march to deliver the People’s Charter toparliament, leading the Times newspaper tocall him ‘the black man and his Party’. Heplayed an important role in persuading theauthorities to amend the Master and ServantLaw in the colonies. He was eventuallyconvicted of insurrection and deported toTasmania, but he continued campaigningeven after this.

Between the two world wars there were major racedisturbances in Britain and in the colonies. Formost of the 20th century, employers operated thecolour bar and black workers faced racism and attimes violence.

In 1919, for example, about 120 black workersemployed in Liverpool sugar refineries and oil cakemills for years, were sacked as white workers refusedto work with them. Another significant event happenedin Cardiff where local white men attacked black men inthe docks forcing the local black community tobarricade themselves in their homes for several days.

Shapurji Saklatvala(1874-1936) born in India, Saklatvala,was a trade unionist, anti-imperialist and ananti-fascist who remained an active memberand valued national speaker. He won aparliamentary seat for the Labour Party inBattersea and later for the Communist Party.He constantly sought to build a united frontbetween the workers of Britain and theforces for liberation in the colonies. With thisapproach he co-founded the WorkersWelfare League of India. Saklatvala wasarrested and jailed during the 1926 GeneralStrike following his speech supporting thestriking miners.

The trade union and labour movement had to be educated through blackworkers determination and long struggle for equality. It has taken many years;progress has been achieved but not completed.

Black History Month

The historical information in this booklet is based on many sources including Organising theUnorganised: Race, Poor Work and Trade Unions by John Wrench and Satnam Virdee, and BlackWorkers and Trade Unions 1945 – 2000 by Wilf Sullivan.

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 2

3

In the first half of the 20th century trade unionswere not effectively taking up the issues faced byblack workers. Some argued that black workers didnot integrate with white workers which stereotypedblack migrant workers as "problem" and "other".

Also, white workers felt their jobs and pay werethreatened with the employment of black workers. Therefore, black workers started to set up theirown organisations. For example, in 1939 WestIndians, Arabs and Malays formed the ColouredSeamen's Union in Cardiff to fight against the colourbar. Similarly, the Coloured Film Artistes' Associationwas established to improve the terms and conditions ofblack actors and extras.

Cécile Nobregaborn in Guyana in 1919,was an educator,accomplished classicalcomposer, poet andsculptor. Active in the NUTand in adult literacy, shecampaigned against

placing misunderstood children, often ethnicminorities, in ESN schools. She started twoschools, a kindergarten and a vocationalschool for teenage girls. Cécile won severalawards for her music and wrote plays. Shestarted the Bronze Woman Project and astatue representing women, particularlyblack women was erected in London. Thisbecame the first public sculpture of a blackwoman on permanent display in England.

Henry Gunter born inJamaica in 1920, was veryactive in the struggle forIndependence. When hemigrated to the USA hefounded the JamaicanWorker. His trade unionactivities led to his banningfrom the USA. He thencame to Britain and as amember of the AUEW

became Birmingham Trades Council's firstblack representative. He campaignedagainst the colour bar and organised a majordemonstration in Birmingham. He was afounding member of the UK’s CaribbeanLabour Congress and the chair of Afro-Caribbean Organisation. Gunter continued towrite in the press and is still campaigning forpeace and justice.

In the 50s, workers from the ex-colonies and theCommonwealth were invited to live and work inBritain however, they were predominantly insubordinate positions and in low-paid, insecurejobs. Racism and stereotyping of black workers wasstill dominant which meant that they did not receivea welcoming reception from trade unions.

Asian workers were active in creating their ownorganisations with strong links with the trade unionmovement. The Indian Workers Association (IWA) withbranches in different cities was formed and was closelyinvolved with both anti-racist and immigrationlegislation. Black organisations also, led the campaignagainst immigration controls.

FrankBaileyjoined the fireservice in1955 afterhearingcomments at atrade unionconferencethat black menwere not educated or strong enough tobecome firefighters. He became an FBUbranch secretary. He helped raise the profileof black workers’ issues in the fire andrescue service. Frank is an honorary FBUBlack &Ethnic Minority Member who attendsevery year and participates widely in theB&EMM education school debates.

Avtar Jouhlborn in 1937came to Britainin 1958 and asan active tradeunionistcampaignedagainst theunfair treatmentof immigrantworkers. Hebecame the T&G shop steward at BirmidFoundries. Jouhl helped arrangedemonstrations, strikes, pickets and even apub crawl of pubs that operated a colourbar. He co-founded the Birmingham branchof the IWA and later became its GeneralSecretary. Jouhl received an OBE forservices to Community Relations and toTrade Unionism.

www.unitetheunion.org

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 3

4

The 60s saw anti-immigration propaganda fuelledby the Conservative Party. Violent attacks onimmigrants led to race riots namely, in Nottinghamand London Notting Hill. The colour bar wasoperated in employment and housing, and banksrefused loans to black people. One significantevent that drew national attention to racialdiscrimination in Britain was the successful Bristolbus boycott.

Until the late 60s the standard trade union position wasthat any special policies for black workers woulddiscriminate against white members. They believed that aworker regardless of his/her skin colour should have thesame rights without any different or special consideration.

Significant strikes of this period namely, the ConeygreFoundry where unofficial disputes were sustained bycommunity support became the case for a number ofstrikes in the 70s.

These workers’ struggles influenced the passing of theRace Relations Act 1965 and 1968. This was also thetime of anti-immigration hysteria and Enoch Powell’s“Rivers of Blood” speech.

Guy Baileyborn in 1941,moved fromJamaica to Bristolin 1961. He wasa youngwarehousemanand Boys'Brigade officerand was refused

to be interviewed by the Bristol OmnibusCompany because he was black. This wasused as a test case leading to the Bristol busboycott. Guy was awarded an OBE for hisoutstanding achievements and service topeople in the South West of England.

Asquith Xavier born in theDominica and a member of theNUR, took on British Railwaysand won a legal battle against thecolour bar. Hailed as a "RailPioneer" in the Daily Mirror, hisvictory led to the strengthening ofthe Race Relations Act and thecreation of the Commission forRacial Equality. It also led to a fulland independent inquiry into racediscrimination inside British Rail.

It was not until the mid 70s when a group of womenAsian workers at the Grunwick factory led byJayaben Desai brought a welcome change. For thefirst time a strike by black workers received masssupport from the movement where workers fromdifferent sectors took secondary action.

A number of key industrial conflicts around racediscrimination and union recognition took place, namelyPakistani workers in Crepe Sizes Ltd, MansfieldHosiery Mills, Courtauld's Mill, Imperial Typewriters andWoolf Rubber Company and E.E Jaffee. Solidaritycommittees comprising families, other Asian Workers,community activists and black and Asian organisationswere formed to support these strikes.

The growing number of these strikes, increasingorganisation on this issue by black and white tradeunionists and the rise of the National Front made theunion movement take note of their prejudice and theirlack of support for black workers.

This period saw changes throughout the labour andtrade union movement and the TUC set up its RaceRelations Advisory Committee in 1975.

Jayaben Desai born in India in 1933,challenged and changed the British publicand trade union’s perception of Asianwomen.Jayaben led thefamousGrunwickdispute whichachieved unionrecognition andreinstatementwhile facingextreme brutalityand racism.Jayaben'snationwide tourencouragedworkers,outraged withthe sacking ofstrikers, to jointhe picket line.Later a sewingjob led Jayabento teach forBrent IndianAssociation, andshe pioneeredan Asiandressmaking course at Harrow College.Jayaben campaigned for equality and justicetill the end.

Black History Month

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 4

5

Dipak Ray(1930-2012)born in India, was aprominent memberof the ASTMS. Hebecame a CRECommissioner andwas heavilyinvolved in thecreation of the TUCCharter for Black

Workers. He was a leading member of theTUC’s Race Relations Advisory Committeeand Equal Rights Committee. Dipak wasinstrumental in campaigning for unions tonegotiate equal opportunities policies aspart of their collective agreements. A GP inWales, he represented the radical MPU. Hisfamily was involved in the campaign forindependence in India and Dipak wasarrested at the age of 11 for distributinganti-British leaflets. He was part of adelegation to gather information on thecauses of the 1980 Bristol riots.

The 80s became the time that union support forblack workers’ disputes were more forthcoming forexample, at Sadhar and Kang the union got itsmember drivers to stop deliveries to the company’slarge suppliers.

The Grunwick strike brought new confidence to blackworkers which led to Unite’s legacy unions and others toagree to varying forms of regional and national blackmembers structures and the appointment of a nationalofficer with responsibility for race equality. They establishedadvisory structures to their executives and adopted equalopportunity policies and anti-racist statements. Manyunions started taking positive steps such as targetingworkplaces, organising conferences for black membersand delivering BAEM regional and national courses.

The TUC also formed its Race Relations Committeeand launched 'Black Workers: A TUC Charter for EqualOpportunity’. This was followed by the establishment ofa reserved seat for black workers and for black womenworkers on its General Council and the creation of itsannual Black Workers' Conference.

Although BAEM migrants of the 50s and 60s werealways good 'joiners', this trend seems to be in declinein this period. To organise the growing under-unionisedblack migrant workers in the expanding low paid,unregulated, marginal work, many unions translatedmaterials and appointed BAEM officers at a local level,linked up with community organisations and localBAEM newspapers and radios. Unions realised thatthey needed to demonstrate that they not only tackletraditional union matters on behalf of black workers butalso fight racism and issues such as immigrationinjustice and racial discrimination and harassment.

Martha Osamor born inNigeria is a prominent activist inthe trade union movement and theblack community. She isremembered for her campaignagainst police abuse on theBroadwater Farm estate whereshe set up Broadwater FarmDefence Campaign, Nursery andWomen’s Centre. Martha waselected as a T&G Branch Chair, Vice-Chairof the Regional Race Equality Committee, amember of the National Race Equality andthe Regional and National Trade Groups.

She was also on the TUC Race RelationsCommittee and the Employment TribunalPanel. A Law Centre Immigration advisor,Martha became a Councillor and a DeputyLeader of Haringey council. She co-foundedthe Black Women's European Network, theAll Women’s Welfare Association. Currently,Martha is the Chair of Haringey Law Centreand the Executive Member of the LawCentres Federation.

www.unitetheunion.org

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 5

6

Monica Taylor, a long-time campaignerfor equality in theworkplace and in theunion. Monica was thefirst black womanelected to both T&Gand Unite Executives.She was a member ofthe T&G EqualOpportunities WorkingParty with the aim of

establishing the union’s National RaceEquality Advisory Committee. Working inengineering, Monica became a shopsteward, the Chair of her branch andRegional BAEM Committee and a memberof the National BAEM Committee. A long-standing member of the Midlands RegionalWomen’s Committee and Vice-Chair of theNational Women’s Committee, she waselected to the TUC Women's Committee,and the European Economic & SocialCommittee. An advocate and campaigner forwomen, Monica negotiated vigorously forwomen’s equality at work, particularly forwomen working part-time.

One of Monica’s achievements was toreceive the TUC Women's Gold Badge forher dedication to the trade union movement.She actively worked with the Lantern projectto help women and children sufferingdomestic violence. Monica is now an activemember of Unite Regional and NationalRetired Members and is currently working asan advisor at her local CAB.

Bill Morris born in1938 in Jamaica becamethe first black leader of aBritish trade union byovercoming racistopposition by the mediaand society but had thesupport of the unionmembership. An avidcampaigner for race equality and injusticesagainst refugees and migrant workers, hewas instrumental in getting the government toabolish the voucher scheme for refugees. Aworker at an engineering company, he waselected as a T&G shop steward and to theunion’s executive. He held a number ofregional and national officer positions in theunion. As the deputy General Secretary, hewas responsible for equality which hecontinued with when he became the firstblack General Secretary in the UK. He was amember of the TUC General Council,President of the TUC and a CRECommissioner. He was a member of theEmployment Appeal Tribunal and serves onthe Parliamentary Joint Committee on HumanRights. In 2006, Bill took a seat in the Houseof Lords as a working life peer.

Bill Morris Testimonial Fund supportedtraining initiatives to raise awareness of theimpact of HIV on the workplace among tradeunionists and funded projects aimingprevention of the spread of the disease. Bill isan independent non-executive Director of theEngland and Wales Cricket Board.

Black History Month

Black H

istory

Month

Working for Race Equality

www.uni

teth

eunio

n.o

rgcelebrate

historymonth

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 6

7

By the 90s it was clear that in Britain, in contrastwith many other European host countries, post-warblack immigrant workers were still more likely tojoin trade unions.

Unite’s legacy unions established their regional andnational Race Equality Committees, now Unite regionaland national BAEM Committees. Also, BAEM minimumproportional representation throughout the unionstructures and activities was enshrined in union Rule.

Following the tragic death of Stephen Lawrence, andthe publication of Macpherson's report, the Task Groupcomprising the six largest unions including Unite’slegacy union, was set up by the TUC. The Group’saction plan has provided the basis for the work of theTUC and trade unions on anti-racism.

Dougie Rooney Bornin Edinburgh, he secured anapprenticeship with anengineering company. He waselected as an AU branchofficial, a shop steward andfinally the convener. He

oversaw an 11 week strike that was onlyresolved when Tony Benn intervened. Hewas very active in the AU national committeeand later became National Officer for theAEEU and Unite. A long standing member ofthe Scottish Labour Party's Standing OrdersCommittee he became its Chair. In hisspeech as the TUC President, Dougie setone of his main priorities to be supportingthe women, black workers, disabled workersand LGBT conferences.

Phyll Opoku-Gyimahwas instrumental in setting upBlack Pride and has become itsTrustee and Executive Director.Phyll became the only Blackfemale Negotiator in the area ofLaw and Justice bargaining atPCS before being appointed asits Head of Equality, Health and

Safety. She is now Unison’s Head ofCampaigns and Parliamentary Affairs. Phyllwas elected to the TUC LGBT Committee.She is also a board member of Justice forGay Africans. Phyll was elected onto theDWP black members and LGBT members’advisory groups. Her efforts wererecognised with a nomination as ‘Woman ofthe Year’ at the Black LGBT CommunityAwards as well as being on the top-50Independent’s Pink List.

Gloria Mills born inTrinidad is the NationalSecretary for Equalities inUNISON. She made historywhen she became the firstblack woman to be electedto the TUC General Counciland later became the firstblack woman to be electedas the TUC President. Shewas instrumental inlobbying for the EU Race and EmploymentDirectives. A mother of the chapel forNATSOPA, Gloria then worked for anotherprint union, SOGAT. She also had regionaland national positions in NUPE. Gloriabecame one of UNISON’s first black womanshop stewards. She joined the TUC executivecommittee, is chair of its race committee anda member of the TUC women's committee.She was a CRE Commissioner and is theVice-President of the ETUC Women’sCommittee. Gloria was awarded an MBE forservices to trade unions and a CBE forservices to equal opportunities.

Collette Cork-Hurstwas the T&G and Unite firstblack woman National Officer.She raised the issue ofprogression at work and theunder-representation of BAEMworkers. She also campaignedagainst racism and fascism, onasylum & immigration and rightsof migrant workers. She raisedthe profile of BAEM women bysetting up the Unite BlackWomen’s Network, and was amember of the Advisory Boardof the EOC ‘Ethnic minority women at work’project. A trade union member of the LabourGovernment’s Ethnic Minority AdvisoryGroup, she ensured workplace issues andjustice for black workers were central to theagenda. She was elected as a long-servingmember of the TUC Race RelationsCommittee and more recently as Secretaryof BAME Labour.  

www.unitetheunion.org

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 7

8

In the 2000s larger trade unions including Unitetook further steps to ensure that their BAEMmembers’ voices were heard by developingconstitutional race equality structures such asconferences, minimum proportional representationor reserved seats throughout their structuresincluding their executive. Also, ensuring justice forblack and migrant workers and fighting against allforms of racism in society including hysteriaspread by the coalition government.

The establishment of women and BAEM constitutionalstructures in Unite’s legacy unions paved the way forthe formation of structures for all equalities; disabled,LGBT and young members. Unite also continued tohave its regional and national BAEM conferences whichstarted its life in 2005.

Mohammad Tajcame to Britain in 1966and in 2013/14 wasTUC's first AsianPresident. During hispresidency he vigorouslycampaigned for womenand LGBT equality,particularly within theAsian community. Heinitially worked in textilesand after became a busconductor and then a busdriver. He became a T&Gshop steward whenAsian bus workerscomplained about unjustpractices. He laterbecame a worker directorfor West Yorkshire.

Taj joined the T&G Equal OpportunitiesWorking Party with the aim of establishingthe union’s National Race Equality AdvisoryCommittee. He became chair of the T&GRace Equality and the Unite National BAEMCommittees and has been on both T&G andUnite’s executives. He is a long standingmember of the TUC General Council.Following the Bradford riots, Taj sat on theCommission looking into its underlyingcauses. He was also a Commissioner on theTed Cantle Community Cohesion Reviewabout the causes of the disturbances inNorthern towns and cities. He became anon-executive Director of Bradford Training& Enterprise Councils and is a member ofthe Employment Tribunal panel.

Patrick Roach is theNASUWT Deputy GeneralSecretary who has led on union’sequalities and education issues.He was a teacher, lecturer and auniversity researcher specialisingin social justice and equality. Heplayed a key role in thedevelopment of professionalstandards and national pay andconditions for teachers. He hasbeen working with disaffected andexcluded young people, and engagingparents and local communities. Patrick is amember of the World Executive Board ofEducational International.

Rehana Azam is the GMBNational Officer for the NHS, oneof the few Asian women toachieve a senior role in the tradeunion movement. She is one ofthe GMB’s youngest appointedNational Officers. An advocateand a campaigner for equality,Rehana led the GMB NationalEquality work for a number ofyears. She is an experiencedcommunity organiser andcampaigner and has beenchallenging the far right. Amember of Darlomums, a groupof women from Darlington, sheco-founded and organised thePeople's March for the NHS and‘999 Call for the NHS’.Rehana is also a member ofBAME Labour National Executive.  

Black History Month

REGIONAL CONTACTS

North West: 0151 203 1907

North East Yorkshire & Humberside: 0113 236 4830

West Midlands: 0121 553 6051

East Midlands: 0133 254 8400

London & Eastern: 020 8800 4281South East: 0118 402 6810South West: 0117 923 0555

Scotland: 0141 404 5424Wales: 02920 394 521

Ireland: Belfast; 028 90 232 381Dublin; 00353 (0)1 873 4577

NATIONAL CONTACT

Telephone: 020 611 2643www.unitetheunion.org/equalities

equality@unitetheunion.org 6630/DP/10-14

bhm leaflet_Layout 1 30/09/2014 14:38 Page 1