WHY WE NEED TO GET AND KEEP RACISM OUT OF OUR WORKPLACES
"I'm not a racist, but..."
You can fill in the blanks for yourself. We've all heard the line
before, maybe even used it.
The fact is, however, it's an empty excuse for going on to make a
derogatory remark about a member or members of a racial minority
group. We may not be able to stop such harmful comments
everywhere, but we can make sure they're stopped in a union
workplace.
Unionism and racism don't mix
Why? Because unionism is based on a commitment to seek equality
and justice for all working people.
Racism is a denial of that goal and if we allow any racism in our
workplaces, we are undermining the basic beliefs of our trade union
movement. Racism separates, confuses, invalidates, and immobilizes
everyone. When we allow even one among us to be singled out for
injustice because of the color of his or her skin, we all suffer.
Workers shouldn't be fighting each other. They should be fighting
the boss for better wages, conditions, benefits, and treatment on
the job. Simply put, giving in to racism is playing into the
bosses' game of divide and conquer. When we do that, we hurt
ourselves because we are weakened and less able to collectively
pursue our interests.
Racism is no joke
Racism is not just open hostility to members of racial minorities
or attempts to deny people basic rights. Anything which puts
people down or insults their dignity is also racism.
And that includes so-called jokes. Remember, it takes two for a
racist joke--one to tell it and one to listen. We may not be the
one telling the joke, but if we listen without objection, we are
contributing to the problem, not the solution. While they may seem
harmless, racial and ethnic jokes really do create a climate that
breeds insensitivity and bad feelings.
OCAW says NO to racism
The Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union is
committed to helping stamp out racism.
We are concerned that our members, frustrated by the decrease in
good paying jobs and the economic problems of our country, will be
tempted to blame minority and immigrant groups--anyone who looks or
speaks differently. The reality is that NAFTA, GATT, and the
corporate pursuit of lower labor costs globally have more to do
with the loss of services and high-wage jobs than do other workers.
But just telling someone to not be racist for the good of the group
is often not enough. We have to figure out how to change the
attitudes and behaviors that fuel racial conflicts. To do that we
must understand the dynamics of racism: first, it feeds off
people's dissatisfaction with their own lives; second, as we are
growing up, we all hear and see a tremendous amount of
misinformation about and disrespect for people of different colors
and backgrounds. This early information tends to stick with us and
to influence our thinking and behavior.
OCAW wants to put an end to racism and inequality. Everywhere.
The first place we're staring is in our workplaces, where we spend
half our waking hours.
Only YOU can do it
The success of our efforts to eliminate racism depends on your
determination and courage. You have jto speak up. You have to
make it clear that, as a good unionist, you don't want any racism
in your workplace.
If you encounter racist remarks, make your objections known.
Explain that racism is an anti-union position. If any racist
graffiti appears, do something to get rid of it.
If members of minority groups are harassed in any way, give them
your support. Take it up with your steward.
If that doesn't work, contact your local leaders or International
representative. Pass this information on to others.
Whatever steps you take are steps toward a stronger union movement
and a better country.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are
caught in an inescapable network of mutuality."
Martin Luther King, Jr.