| Description | Statements issued by the Central Executive Committee, largely consisting of press releases, but also including open letters and memoranda to government officials, outlining the policy of the Indian Workers Association, mainly in relation to British government policy on immigration expressed through restrictive legislation. There are also press releases outlining the organisation's stance on political developments in India, and relating to other Indian Workers Association campaigns opposing domestic violence.
/1 expressing concern about events in the state of Punjab and the abuse of government powers by people holding office there. The statement is undated, but the names and addresses of the Central Executive Committee members given on the document place the likely date in the early 1960s
/2 announcing the opening of an Indian Workers Association welfare office at 119 Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham 26 March 1961 to assist Indian nationals with passport applications and benefit forms
/3 opposing false allegations against migrants in the name of Immigration Control, particularly statements made by the Immigration Control Committee associating migrants with unemployment and poor housing, and giving details about a public meeting to be held at St Stephen's Church Hall 8 July 1961 to discuss these issues
/4 asking newspaper editors to publish extracts from the Indian Workers Association publication 'The Victims Speak' following the lobby of parliament by the organisation 1 December 1965, and announcing a press conference in Birmingham 30 November 1965
/5 explaining the stance of the Indian Workers Association, the Pakistani Welfare Association, and the West Indian Standing Conference in urging members of these groups to abstain from voting in the 1966 General Election in the Birmingham constituencies of All Saints and Sparkbrook
/6 informing newspaper editors of a conference called in Birmingham by the Co-ordinating Committee Against Racial Discrimination, the Indian Workers Association, the Pakistani Welfare Association and the West Indian Standing Conference in March 1966
/7 reporting on a mass demonstration against racist policies of the British government held in Birmingham 2 July 1967
/8 expressing condemnation of proposed immigration legislation against migrants from East Africa, and announcing a mass lobby of parliament organised by the Indian Workers Association, 28 February 1968
/9 expressing the position of the organisation on the Race Relations Bill 1968
/10 condemning Enoch Powell's latest speech on behalf of the organisation as a whole, and particularly on behalf of Indian Workers in Wolverhampton. This statement is issued in English and Punjabi
/11 issued for distribution in Wolverhampton opposing racism in the town, as expressed in speeches by national politicians like Enoch Powell, attitudes by the local council, and racist attacks on migrants living in the area, 1968
/12 condemning racist policies by both the Conservative and Labour parties in Britain, following a speech by Edward Heath in York, 20 September 1968
/13 giving information about a demonstration organised by the Indian Workers Association at the conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers in London, probably in January 1969. The statement sets out the demands of the demonstration
/14 informing newspaper editors of the proceedings of the National Conference of the Indian Workers Association at Nottingham, November 1970
/15 appealing to voters to defeat the Conservative government and intensify the class struggle, early 1970s
/16 giving information about a demonstration in London to protest against the racist nature of the 1971 Immigration Bill which would significantly limit the entry of black and Asian migrants to Britain
/17 memorandum presented to Home Office minister Alex Lyon at a meeting of Asian organisations called by the Indian Workers Association 21 February 1975 concerning the effects on migrants of the Immigrants Act 1971, and urging the government to make concessions over the treatment of migrants entering Britain, and the entry of husbands and fiances of women already living in Britain
/18 announcing decisions made at the last quarterly meeting of the Central Committee, with information about the association's current campaigns, 20 August 1979
/19 condemning the racist policies of the Conservative government, particularly its White Paper on immigration, and demanding the repeal of the Immigrants Act 1971, the withdrawal of the White Paper on immigration, and the release of Southall prisoners. The statement refers to a demonstration held 25 November 1979 in which the Indian Workers Association took part
/20 disseminating proceedings of the National Conference of the Indian Workers Association at Derby, August 1980
/21 disseminating proceedings of a conference on dual nationality called by the Indian Workers Association, 19 October at Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham. This statement is issued in English and Punjabi
/22 condemning the proposals in the White Paper on Nationality and giving details about the Indian Workers Association's campaign against this legislation together with the Campaign Against Racist Laws, 10 January 1981
/23 condemning the sponsorship of the Festival of India, and the choice of Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher as patrons of the event. This statement is undated, but probably refers to the Festival of India that took place in 1982
/24 presenting demands put to the Home Secretary Douglas Hurd on his visit to Birmingham 28 February 1986 by the Indian Workers Association and other local organisations, following the disturbances in Lozells and Handsworth the previous year. The intention of the demands was to alleviate unemployment and social deprivation in the local area.
/25 condemning the proposals of the Conservative government to impose visas for visitors coming to Britain from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana and announcing a meeting of black and anti-racist organisations in Birmingham to take place 20 September 1986. The statement was issued by the Bangladesh Workers Association, the Indian Workers Association and the Kashmiri Workers Association
/26 stating the policy of the Indian Workers Association on domestic violence against women and children, issued following a ruling at Stafford Law Courts, October 1986, by the Indian Workers Association and Women Today. See also MS 2141/A/8/2/2/18 for a press statement on this issue released by the Indian Workers Association Birmingham branch women's section |