[sheffield-noborders] section 9 conference

[Alison Higgins]

Defy Section 9!
Trade Unionists Fighting the Asylum and Immigration Acts 

Conference
Saturday 28th January 2006,
Methodist Central Hall, Oldham St, Manchester
11a.m. - 4 p.m.

Section 9 of the 2004 Asylum and Immigration Act seeks to 'influence
failed asylum seekers' to voluntarily return' (Tony McNulty) to their
country of origin, by withdrawing all state support and threatening to
take children of 'failed' asylum seekers into care. The Refugee Council
reports that support has already been withdrawn from 17 families and a
further 70 families are nearing the end of the process.

The British Association of Social Workers described this as a 'brutal'
and 'wholly inappropriate' practice. The Association of Directors of
Social Services called it a matter of 'grave concern' and 'really
belonging to an earlier century'. It has been condemned by human rights
organisations such as Liberty and trades unions such as Unison and the
National Union of Teachers. 87% of Manchester Evening News readers have
supported 10 Greater Manchester Councils who are calling for a review of
Section 9.

After one office of Manchester social workers voted in an emergency
motion to refuse to implement Section 9, Steve Stott, the Greater
Manchester Team Manager, Unison North West said Unison North West Region
will give full backing to any member who refuse to implement Section 9.
John Cooke, a Manchester Social Worker says, "We refuse to betray our
principles of child centred and anti-racist practice.  We call on the
union to back us up and ordinary members to organise this fight."

This conference is aimed at trade unionists, workers, activists - in
both the refugee and wider community - teachers, school students and
anyone else who wants to build active resistance to Section 9.

We oppose all racism and refuse to betray the principles of the trade
union movement. An attack on one is an attack on all. We will organise
for a united fightback led by refugees and ordinary members to refuse to
discriminate on the basis of race, nationality or immigration status.  


Phone Jason Travis Bolton NUT to register and for more information on
07976 476181

Supported by: Sukula Family Must Stay Campaign, Altaf Family Defence
Campaign, Committee To Defend Asylum Seekers, Unison United Left (North
West region), British Association of Social Workers, National Coalition
of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, Bolton National Union of Teachers, Bolton
Trades Council, Liberty