GFTU BGCM 2017

Implementation

Implementing 2015 Resolutions

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The TUC campaign document was circulated at the

BGCM 2015.

The new GFTU/New Internationalist publishing

house is publishing a book of songs in its first

tranche of publications which focus greatly on this

subject and the need for integration and solidarity.

Resolution 15 (continued)

2015 to consider proposals of benefit for affiliates including where best

we can reach out to new membership growth areas;

3) Continue its good work to encourage mutual working and sharing of

facilities and services between affiliates.

Resolution 16

Attack on Migrant Workers

(1) This Conference condemns the right wing media frenzy designed to whip

up fear about an influx of immigration, especially in the light of relaxation

of labour market controls on migrant citizens from Romania and Bulgaria to

other EU member states from 1st January 2014. Although these claims of

mass migration to UK were always exaggerated, In the first 3 months of 2014

the amount of Romanians and Bulgarians employed in Britain fell by 4000 to

140000 people. Despire this the pattern of right wing propaganda designed

to divert the British electorate from the real causes of the economic crisis has

continued to place the blame on immigrants, benefit scroungers etc. The

only real beneficiaries from this are UKIP and the far right racist parties like the

EDL.

(2) This Conference condemns the Coalition Government for capitalising on

this fear with new rafts of legislation aimed to make life even worse for

migrants to the UK e.g. stop migrants from claiming benefits in the first three

months of living in the UK with the prospect of unemployed migrants being

permanently denied housing benefits. These measures have been set up in

what the government have described as targeting those who will attempt to

exploit the benefits system.

(3) This is yet another unjust measure taken against migrants in an attempt

to scare people from coming to the UK and making us seem like an

unwelcoming country.

(4) In this highly charged atmosphere of racism and anti-immigration hysteria

it is appalling that the government is deliberately misinforming the country

regarding migrants. A YouGov survey from 2013 showed that most people

thought that 500,000 immigrants were coming into the UK and claiming

benefits. In reality, 60,000 come into the UK and, only 3% of those 60,000

claim benefits. This may explain an ICM poll that was conducted on 13

January 2014, showing that 54% of people admitted that they thought that

EU migrants would have a negative effect on the economy, despite being

told beforehand that citizens born in the UK draw more from the welfare

state.

(5) This Conference demands the Government stop pedalling misinformation

when official statistics, academic reports and even an independent fiscal

watchdog who is an advisor to the government, show that immigration

would be beneficial to the UK. This is because most immigrants who arrive

into the UK are of working age and will consequentially contribute to taxes;

thus contributing to giving a well needed boost to Britain’s economy.

(6) This Conference also calls on leading politicians of all parties not to whip

up racial tensions by pandering to anti-immigration sentiment in the false

hope of winning support from UKIP. Much of the cause of this fear is the

direct result of the neo- liberal drive in this country to deregulate our labour

markets by attacking trade unions and diminishing the role of collective

bargaining. Employers now set the rate of pay and have been on a relentless

drive to reduce wage rates to the bottom – and import low cost labour to fill

the jobs local people cannot afford to take.

(7) This Conference calls on the GFTU to:

Campaign with and amongst our own affliates, the community and in

the media to make the link between racism, fear of immigration and the

deregulation of our labour markets;