At our recent conference we debated and supported a motion that condemned how “the current UK government has decided to play the basest ‘divide and rule’ politics with an issue that needs a legal and humanitarian approach - the question of refugee protection”.
Conference also encouraged our Union to “support refugees and combat the racist, divisive approach to this issue propagated by the mainstream media and opportunistic politicians.” The importance of developing this debate was first raised directly by our Social Worker members in the Belfast Trust and I would like to personally thank them for doing so. It is a tribute to them that NIPSA’s solidaristic work on these issues continues to grow.
As a further contribution, and in order to engage in the “battle of ideas”, I attach the latest Policy and Research publication – “Beyond the Politics of Hate: defeating anti-refugee rhetoric”. This booklet challenges many of the myths around this issue and broadens our demands: to argue for the better society that we all deserve and for which we and our trade union/community allies will continue to fight.
I would encourage you to share this document and the ideas within it as widely as you can.