Union challenges invitation of British National Party to US
conference
27th January 2010
Leaders of the largest trade unions in the UK, Ireland, North
America and Canada have made a fierce protest against the decision
of a large hotel chain to host a conference due to be addressed by
the leader of the far right British National Party (BNP), Nick
Griffin.
In a letter to the Westin Hotel from the world’s first
international union, Workers Uniting which represents three million
working people, expresses deep anger about the decision of the
management to allow an individual - whose views are so offensive to
so many - to address a white supremacist conference on its
premises.
The Westin Hotel chain has over 160 hotels and resorts
worldwide. Workers Uniting, the world’s first global union is a
partnership between Unite from the United Kingdom and the United
Steelworkers (USW) from the United States and Canada.
In their letter signed by Unite joint general secretaries Derek
Simpson and Tony Woodley and USW international president Leo
Gerard, they say: “Workers Uniting is appalled that the Westin
would allow an individual whose views are so offensive and
abhorrent to many, to hold a public address on its premises.
“You should be aware that a court order was made against the BNP
after legal proceedings were issued against the party on the
grounds that its membership requirements discriminated on grounds
of, amongst other things, race. In 1998 Griffin received a
nine-month prison sentence (suspended for two years) after being
found guilty of distributing material likely to incite racial
hatred. As well as this, Griffin is reported to have referred to
the Holocaust as the 'Holohoax'.”
Derek Simpson, Tony Woodley and Leo Gerard are urging hotel
management to reconsider their decision in order to avoid serious
reputational damage to their business.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, is due to
be the keynote speaker at the ‘American Renaissance’ conference
February 19th – 21st.
The conference is due to be held at: The Westin Washington
Dulles Airport, 2520 Wasser Terrace, Herndon, Va. 20171 United
States.
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