NEWS RELEASE Tuesday 2nd December 2003
NEW EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ACT: STUC WELCOMES GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON LEGISLATION ALLOWING UNIONS TO EXPEL RACIST ACTIVISTS
Welcoming the Government's announcement on legislation in the New Employment Relations Act: STUC General Secretary Bill Speirs said:
"This is encouraging news indeed. Scottish trade unions have proved their commitment to fighting racism at every level in society just as trade unionists gave their lives in battle against fascism in the Second World War.
"Many unions have been attempting to expel racists and fascists despite a lack of support in the Employment Relations Act 1992. This announcement will allow us to fight even more effectively against attempts by far right parties to infiltrate the trade union movement."
The STUC made its call for the repeal of the relevant sections of the 1992 Act at its Black Workers Conference in September. Today's announcement follows intense lobbying and campaigning work by many sections of the trade union movement in Scotland and the UK as whole.
The issue was highlighted by STUC President Sandy Boyle in a strongly worded speech to the STUC St Andrews Day March Against Racism and Fascism last Saturday.
STUC Assistant Secretary Mary Senior, Secretary to the STUC Black Workers Committee said:
"This announcement sends out a positive message for trade unions and activists, that they will be supported in their efforts to root out racists and fascists wherever they are found. We salute the work both of black workers and the trade union movement as a whole in placing this issue so firmly onto the government's agenda."