Indian Workers Association papers 1991-1994

Papers were originally stored in an A4 lever arch file, and are arranged in reverse chronological order, with material from 1994 at the beginning of the file. Material consists of:

/1 handwritten notes about the history of the Indian Workers Association

/2-/3 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and Anthony Wilson, Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust, concerning a grant towards travel costs of attending an event' Unite Against Racism' 1994

/4 handwritten summary of statements by NATFHE broad left candidates, undated

/5 letter to Suman Choudary, Race Relations Unit from Birmingham Trade Union Education Centre concerning the translation of a poster for Hall Green college into Punjabi, Gujerati, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Chinese, 1994

/6 photocopied flyers, in English and Punjabi versions, with details about a TUC National Demonstration 'Unite Against Racism' London 1994

/7 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Dipali Chandera, Assistant Director of the Barrow & Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust applying for funding for coach transport from Birmingham and Sandwell to 'Unite Against Racism' demonstration in London 1994

/8-/9 memoranda between CTUC and Apex representatives relating to the recruitment and appointment of a project co-ordinator for the Caribbean project 1992

/10 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the Director of the Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust concerning a grant application for building and contents insurance premium for Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Trust, 1993

/11 letter to Avtar Jouhl from Eric Adams, Deputy Secretary of the Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust concerning the payment of a Trust grant, and referring to a query about charity registration, 1993

/12-/17 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and Eric Adams and Anthony Wilson of the Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust discussing the application for and offer of a grant for a building extension to the Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Centre, provided the remaining costs can be raised from other sources, 1993

/18 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Anthony Wilson enclosing a copy of a leaflet distributed at the TUC annual conference and proposal for mechanism of black workers places on General Council for next year's conference, and the future event of TUC Black Workers Conference, 1992

/19-21 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and Anthony Wilson, Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust discussing insurance premiums for Shaheed Udham Singh centre, following fire damage to the premises in 1991, and the likely application by the Indian Workers Association for money for new premises, 1991-1992

/22 letter to Michael Anderson, School of Oriental and African Studies department of Law from Anthony Wilson, Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust with photocopy of a letter from Satyu Sarangi giving the background on which Avtar Jouhl based his recommendation for a grant to the Bhopal group. The letter provides information about the doctors working with Bhopal victims and the struggle for compensation in 1992. Evidently the group needed financial assistance, and Avtar had suggested Barrow Cadbury fund.

/23-/26 correspondence and associated material relating to the application of a student for an MA in Industrial Relations at Keele University, and for a job as Education Officer at MSF Union, 1991-1996. Avtar Jouhl provided a reference in both cases. These papers are closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act until 2077 because they contain personal information about individuals

/27-/28 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and Sarah Howard, National Education Officer at MSF Whitehall College concerning references for another individual employed at Birmingham Trade Union Resource Centre and working on a secondment at MSF Whitehall College 1991-1993. These papers are closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act until 2074 because they contain personal information about individuals.

/29 typescript paper prepared for UK Migrants' Caucus of the Migrants' Forum of the European Community, Brussels, Belgium, unidentified author, 1991

/30 letter to the Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Centre from Birmingham City Council Department of Planning and Architecture regarding an application for a single storey rear extension and the conversion of a first floor store to a bedroom, 1992

/31 photocopy of a newspaper article from 'Punjabi Darpan' with a photograph of Avtar Jouhl, 1992

/32 estimate from TURC print for posters 1991

/33 photocopies of newspaper articles concerning the Indian Workers Association's position on Kashmir after remarks by Gerald Kaufman from 'India Weekly' and 'India Abroad' 1991

/34 page from an unidentified German newspaper consisting of an article about Indian politics, with quotes from Avtar Jouhl, undated

/35 letter to Avtar Jouhl from Clare Short regarding delegates from EETPU, the electricians trade union which later merged to become AEEU and later Amicus, 1991

/36 circular letter from the Race Equality Unit, London Borough of Greenwich, to all participants of Black History events informing them that the events will be videoed and that speeches and contributions on the day will be eventually published as a pamphlet 1991

/37 programme for the 'Black Presence in Britain' event organised by Central Race Equality Unit, London Borough of Greenwich, for Black History Month 1992. Avtar Jouhl gave talk on the history of black trade unionism and black workers in Britain

/38 circular 'News from Greenwich' about black history celebrations October 1991

/39 copy of the programme for First Asian Sports Day organised by Strathclyde Asian Sports Association in Glasgow 1991

/40 call for papers for a proposed conference on 'the mobilisation of ethnic minorities and ethnic social movements in Europe' at Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations at the University of Warwick to be held in April 1992

/41 circular letter in Punjabi from the Reading branch of the Indian Workers Association giving details of an event, undated

/42 photocopy of pages from 'Panjabi Guardian', with an article and a letter to the editor highlighted, 1991

/43 photocopy of article in 'World Sikh News' about 'blatant interference in Sikh affairs, undated

/44 circular letter to Central Executive Committee officers and members with details of an urgent meeting of the Central Executive Committee to discuss the international situation and political situation in India which will be attended by a member of the Community Party of India (Marxist) and the Minister of West Bengal, 1991

/45 circular letter from the Midlands District New Communist Party about a Midlands Communist Unity Meeting, discussing ideological differences between the New Communist Party and the Communist Party of Britain, 1991 (2 copies)

/46 leaflet in Punjabi explaining the meaning of the Contract of Employment and legal rights of the employee

/47 flyer in Punjabi for a charity show organised by the Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Centre at the Night Club Inn, Smethwick 19 July 1991

/48 letter from the Indian Workers Association Derby branch to Avtar Jouhl with an invitation to their 44th Independence Day of India celebration 1991

/49-/50 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the High Commissioner of India about errors in a memorandum on dual nationality 1991, together with a copy of the memorandum

/51 handwritten statement by the Indian Workers Association Birmingham and Sandwell branch regarding service delivery and the employment of black and ethnic minority applicants by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

/52 letter to Avtar Jouhl from Vorwarts, sozialistische Wochenzeuitung, Switzerland with thanks for interview, 1991

/53 SCORE (UK) briefing paper entitled 'UK government machine set to roll over refugee, visitor and immigration rights' including a statement by Bernie Grant, 1991

/54 abusive letter addressed to the director of the Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre from a Neo-Nazi group, 1991, the SS Liebstandarte UK Deaths Head Brigade. This letter contains offensive racist language.

/55 typescript copy of the Home Secretary's oral statement on asylum 1991

/56 letter to Avtar Jouhl from the Bangladesh Centre, Watford Road, Birmingham, with a cheque in payment for an advertisement published in a magazine, possibly Lalkar, 1991

/57 posters in Urdu issued by the Jammu Kashmir Peoples National Party, undated

/58-/59 handwritten notes on India after the elections with reference to the Kashmir situation; typescript report on the history of the Kashmir issue and the current situation, 1991

/60 flyer in German about 'Indien nach den Wahlen' discussion and musical event, 1991

/61 Indian Workers Association London branch newsletter May/June 1991

/62 handwritten report on the activities of the Coventry branch of the Indian Workers Association, 1991

/63 Indian Workers Association circular to all Central Executive Committee officers and members with details of the Central Executive Committee meeting June 1991, together with an agenda

/64 report to 'Punjabi Darpan' from the Indian Workers Association about the election of Bill Morris as General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union [TGWU]

/65 Indian Workers Association circular letter to all branch secretaries about the finances of the central committee particularly relating to the costs of Lalkar, 1991

/66 handwritten note in Punjabi from Makhan Singh to Avtar Jouhl about payments into an Indian Workers Association account, a meeting with Bill Morris and a meeting about the anti-dowry campaign 25 August in his office

/67 fax in Punjabi, undated

/68 copy letter to all secretariat members about a meeting with the High Commissioner of India, 1991

/69 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Bill Morris, General Secretary Elect of the Transport and General Workers Union [TGWU] with congratulations from the Central Executive Committee of the Indian Workers Association on his victory

/70-/71 photocopies of articles in the 'Morning Star' and 'The Guardian' about Indian democracy and repercussions in the Indian community following the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, 1991

/72 list of the names and contact details of Central Executive Committee office bearers and members. This list is closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act until 2071 because it contains personal information about individuals

/73 Minutes of the Central Executive Committee meeting of the Indian Workers Association held in June 1991 at Woolwich

/74 Minutes of the Indian Workers Association secretariat meeting held June 1991 in Nottingham

/75 circular letter to all Central Executive Committee officers and members with details of a Central Executive Committee meeting including an agenda, 1991

/76 letter to Avtar Jouhl from Sarwan Singh Sanghwal acknowledging the receipt of cheques, accepting pay outstanding for work with the Indian Workers Association Willenhall branch project , accepting the amount as settlement and stating that he will withdraw his proceedings in the county court 1991.

/77 pamphlet entitled 'Elections in India: a fascinating story' designed and produced by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India April 1991

/78 photocopy of a typed summary to all heads of school from, D.W.M.Keith 'The White Paper' on vocational qualifications

/79 handwritten Indian Workers Association Central Committee statement about the murder of Rajiv Gandhi

/80 copy of 'India Votes' pamphlet about general elections in May 1991, with details of political parties, women candidates, and previous elections

/81 job description for the post of Education Officer, possibly for NATFHE

/82 letter from the Bangladesh Workers Association to the Secretary General of Migrants Forum in Brussels about membership of the Forum, including details about the history of the Bangladesh Workers Association and its previous and current campaigns 1991

/83 poster issued by the Indian Youth Association (GB) Southall for Bharti Naujwan Sabha May Day Rally with a cultural programme and national and international speakers, including Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, 1991

/84 flyer issued by the Indian Youth Association in collaboration with Indian Workers Association (GB) Southall branch for May Day Rally 1991

/85 letter in Punjabi from Surkh Rekha, a fortnightly Punjabi publication in India, which appears to have been the publication of the Communist Party Reorganization Centre of India (Marxist-Leninist), April 1991

/86 newspaper article from the 'Daily Star' about their anti-immigration campaign, cracking down on 'scroungers' and 'economic migrants' who 'sponge off the state', 1991

/87 flyer issued by the Indian Workers Association London branch with details of a cultural programme to mark the 60th anniversary of Shaheed E Azam Bhagat Singh's death. Speakers included Harpal Brar and Prem Singh, 1991

/88 circular letter from the Indian Workers Association Co-ordinating committee about the merger conference held by both Indian Workers Associations (GB)s in February 1991, with details of a souvenir issue of Lalkar, asking all fraternal organisations to send a greeting for the conference which will appear in this issue, 1991. The reverse of this letter contains handwritten notes by Avtar with minutes of a Secretariat meeting 1991

/89 circular letter notifying members of the Indian Workers Association Secretariat of a meeting, together with an agenda, April 1991

/90 letter to Avtar Jouhl from Bob Purkiss, National Equalities Officer of the Transport and General Workers Union [TGWU] attaching a list of religious festivals for religions other than Christianity for inclusion in a TGWU diary, asking for assistance in formats, 1991

/91 flyer in English and Punjabi issued by the Indian Workers Association Birmingham and Sandwell branch for May Day and Martyr's Day celebration at the Community centre in Smethwick, 1991

/92-/96 election flyers for TGWU General Secretary elections for Bob Harrison and Bill Morris, with poster for Bill Morris, and flyers in Punjabi and Urdu for local branch 5/119

/97 computer print out of a letter in Punjabi consisting of a press statement from Harjit Daudharia on behalf of the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association condemning the state and Khalistani terrorism in Punjab, 14 March 1991

/98 small numbered flyer for Indian Workers Association and Coventry Trades Council May Day celebration, with Avtar Jouhl and Bill Morris as speakers, undated

/99 flyer issued by Coventry Committee to Stop War in the Gulf c/o Coventry Trades Council, supported by Coventry Indian Workers Association for a public meeting on Racism and the Gulf War with Bernie Grant. The flyer also contains details for a Day School on 'The Gulf and the 'New World Order' with information in Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic?, and another Asian language 1991

/100 flyer for a Public Meeting on Racism and the Gulf War with Bernie Grant, with booking form for day school 1991

/101 flyer issued by T&G publications for a public meeting on Coventry's manufacturing future, with Bill Morris of TGWU and Ken Gill of MSF speaking at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum on the case for investment in manufacturing, organised by Coventry Trades Council

/102 invitation to Avtar Jouhl from the High Commissioner of India to meet Indian dignitaries 1991

/103 Indian Workers Association circular letter to members of the Secretariat with an agenda for the next meeting, April 1991

/104-/106 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and the Transport and General Workers Union [TGWU] regional secretary regarding a 'Newsnight' programme and comments made on TGWU rules on immigrant membership and the union's commitment to black members, 1991

/107-/110 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and George Wright, TGWU regional secretary over references in campaign literature to 'immigrant membership', 1991

/111 letter in Punjabi to Avtar Jouhl from Amarjit Chandan about the attitudes of Harpal Brar and Surinder Cheema, giving an account of an incident where he was manhandled and insulted, and thrown out of a public meeting, 11 March 1991

/112 photocopy of a newspaper article in English, together with one in Punjabi. The English article contains a report on the 1989 harmony awards in New Delhi and an award for Avtar Singh Paash, a Punjabi poet

/113 computer print out of letter in Punjabi from Amarjit Chandan about an incident where Harpal Brar and Surinder Cheema had manhandled him 1 April 1991

/114 letter in Punjabi from Harjit Daudharia about computer training, 25 January 1991

/115 election material for Bill Morris's campaign for election as Transport and General Workers Union [TGWU] General Secretary containing a biography of his career with the union

/116 flyer issued by TGWU 5/119 branch - Smethwick, with details of a special meeting at the Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre on Dudley Road, Birmingham. Bill Morris, Deputy General Secretary, and Margaret Prosser, National Womens Officer, were speakers, and Avtar Jouhl is listed as President of the branch 1991

/117 photocopy of a typescript report of the Co-ordination committee to Indian Workers Association (GB)s joint National Conference February 1991

/118 flyer in English and Punjabi issued by the Indian Workers Association (GB) with details of an International Rally to stop war in the Gulf in February 1991 at West Park college in Smethwick. The rally featured speakers from the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist); Desh Bhagat Yadgar; speakers from the Women's Section of the Indian Workers Association; and Prem Singh and Teja Singh Sahota

/119 circular letter issued by Campaign Against Racist Laws with an agenda for next meeting February 1991, with a list of sponsors

/120 flyer issued by the Anti-Dowry campaign (GB) with details of the campaign, and a form for affiliation, undated

/121 letter in Punjabi from Amolak Singh to the President and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association about the current situation in Punjab and support for the revolutionary democratic movement which was fighting against Khalistani and state terrorism 15 April 1991

/122 Indian Workers Association circular letter to all branches issued by the Co-ordinating committee with details of the National Merger Conference February 1991

/123 Indian Workers Association circular letter issued by the Co-ordinating committee asking for all fraternal organisations to send a greeting for the merger conference in Birmingham, to appear in a souvenir issue of Lalkar, 1991

/124 letter from Indian Workers Association Birmingham and Sandwell branch to the High Commission of India in Birmingham regarding Dual Nationality for British Passport holders of Indian origin, enclosing a typescript paper on 'Dual Nationality for the Citizens of India' 1990

/125 newspaper report in Punjabi by Avtar Jouhl in support of Bill Morris as candidate for General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union [TGWU]

/126 leaflet in Punjabi issued by Transport and General Workers Union [TGWU] 5/119 branch in support of Bill Morris as General Secretary of the TGWU

/127 article in Punjabi, published in 'Punjabi Darpan' giving information about a public meeting held 23 February 1990 organised by Woolwich Anti Dowry Campaign at GCRE Cultural Centre, Woolwich. The article gives an account of the meeting and the themes discussed by the speakers

Part of this file is closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1988 because some items contain personal information about individuals. The remainder of the file is available for consultation. See description field for dates when material will be available. Remove marked 'closed' files before serving.