Film Number

7458

Title

THE STRUGGLE OF BLACK WORKERS, BERNIE GRANT [PART ONE]

Producer

WFA

Date

1982

Gauge

U-matic LB

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Running Time

59 mins 27 secs

Description

As an Officer for the NUPE (National Union for Public Employees) for 5 years, Bernie Grant gives presentation to meeting in Manchester about what the trade union can do to combat racism. He speaks about the scarcity of officials from minority backgrounds and the deeply embedded racism within the unions. Uses example of black nurses in NHS to exemplify the extreme exploitation that takes place and how as workers their hands are tied. He gives a critique of the CRE (Council for Race Equality) and the kinds of practices that obstruct black workers from making changes. He proposes a series of ideas to combat these practices, including recognition of the particular needs of black workers, and the discrimination inherent in the rule books, language and literacy training. He presents a Trade Union Pack for Black Workers which integrates the issues about training, monitoring, glossary of terms, contact lists, etc. He also raises some of the problems this pack has created.

[Catalogued as part of 'Revitalising the Regions' a Screen Heritage UK project, 2011]