GFTU BGCM Report 2017

Resolution 15 (continued)

Implementation

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

Implementation

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.

(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: 1. 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;

Implementing 2015 Resolutions | Page 20