President calls for more anti-racist campaigning

The UK president of UNISON has called on Scottish branches to build on the work the union does in combating racism across the UK.

President Norma Stephenson congratulated UNISON's Scottish Council of delegates from across Scotland for the campaigning they did against the British National Party in the last Scottish elections, preventing the right-wing party from gaining a foothold in Scotland.

"Your strong action both in the media and on the streets in areas like Ayr, Aberdeenshire and Glasgow showed people what the BNP really stood for and they rightly rejected them. Well done", said Norma.

She called for the union to join with the anti-racist charity - Show Racism the Red Card - to extend the union's message to the general public.

"I am proud of UNISON's record in opposition to racism, and this is a campaign that I have put my energies into over the years. I am particularly heartened to see that the BNP have no political foothold in Scotland, and proud of the action that you in UNISONScotland took to deliver that.

"As both an anti-racist campaigner and a football supporter, I want all UNISON branches - and as many members as possible - to sign up to back Show Racism the Red Card and join branches like South Ayrshire, Stirling and Perth & Kinross in promoting their work in football."

Norma also warned that the Scottish Government's recent budget was likely to lead to challenges for the union especially in the government's apparent enthusiasm for Shared Services as a panacea, and condemned the them for moving away from their promise to get rid of PFI.

She said, "Private sector consultants are lining up to sell shared services as a quick fix to meet financial targets, but there is no quick fix.

"The history of shared services in the public sector is one of high costs, centralisation and job losses. It must be very disappointing to you that the Scottish Government, who promised to get rid of PFI, has now come up with a PFI-Lite solution - the Scottish Futures Trust - that offers little to end this waste of public money."

Norma, a healthcare assistant for Tees, Esk & Wear Valley NHS Trust, was elected to the union's highest lay position in July 2007. She joined the union as soon as she started work, quickly became involved, and has held virtually every union post since then.

A member of the UNISON national executive council for the past eight years, she was elected to the Labour Party national executive four years ago and chairs Labour's women, race and equality committee.

Donate to Show Racism the Red Card

You can donate as a branch or an individual to Show Racism the Red Card by visiting www.unison-scotland.org.uk/redcard

"All funds raised in Scotland will be used in Scotland", says Billy Singh, Campaign Coordinator

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