Prospect supports TUC Council statement on uniting against racism and the far right

Prospect has shown its strong support for the TUC Council statement against the far right at the Trade Union Congress in Brighton which has been passed unanimously today.

Uniting against racism and the far right

Introduction

Our movement is built on the values of unity and solidarity, bringing workers together to stand as one. The far right seeks to divide us pitting worker against worker. The values of the far right and the core principles of our unions are irreconcilably opposed.

The Tories’ 14-year record has damaged community cohesion and relations. They paid lip service to equalities while waging an assault on working-class communities, watering down and removing social protections, and actively seeking to weaken trade union rights.

In the lead-up to the 2024 General Election, the Conservative government resorted to the politics of hate in a desperate attempt to divert attention from its failures. They and Reform stoked anti-Muslim hatred, demonised migrants, trans people, and those claiming social security and tried to undermine the values of unity and solidarity that form the bedrock of our movement. Their actions have spread anxiety and fear within our communities.

The violence and chaos that took place in many towns and cities during the summer was a deliberate attempt to exploit the fears of those ordinary working people, families and communities who have lost faith in government, democracy and civil society. The violence on our streets was the latest result of the deliberate spread of toxic anti-Muslim, anti-migrant, racist narratives, fuelled by right-wing politicians, influencers, and certain elements of mainstream and social media. These destructive forces have been unleashed in communities that need support and solidarity – not fear and division.

However, we also saw what happens when workers and communities come together to reject racism and fascism, we unleash a collective power that can change the course of history. This summer, we saw the strength of our collective resolve, and we applaud our members for taking a courageous stand against violence, bigotry, and hate.

We have stood strong against racist and fascist threats before and we are prepared to do so again, but as the political climate shifts toward open violence and harm on our streets, our response must grow even stronger.

Across the globe, the political landscape has seen significant influence from far-right ideologies which has allowed them to find electoral success, as seen in the European elections including Germany following the recent elections with the AfD (Alternative fur Deutschland) and, very nearly, the French ballot, where strategic alliances, coordinated electoral efforts, and mobilising public and worker power prevented the far-right from gaining political control.

The rise of the far right internationally is alongside the surge in racism, xenophobia and anti-Muslim hatred. The far right is targeting Black, women, disabled, LGBT+ workers and communities. The politics of hate transcends and intersects across many marginalized and vulnerable groups Their twisted ideology threatens the rights of women, seeks to deny bodily autonomy, attacks disabled individuals, and vilifies the LGBT+ community for simply existing.

These forms of hatred and discrimination are infiltrating our workplaces too. Our recent research revealed that 1 in 2 LGBT+ workers have been bullied at work and that far too many Black women have faced sexual harassment in their workplaces. The far-right narrative of division isn’t just poisoning the internet – it’s making our workplaces more hostile and discriminatory.

We are strongest in defeating racism and the far right by organising in our branches and workplaces and now is the time for action. The trade union movement must step up to confront this dangerous tide and ensure our workplaces remain spaces of solidarity, respect, and dignity for all workers.

Our plan to defeat the far right must include:

Organising against hate in our workplaces

We will not stand by while the far-right sows division in our workplaces. Organising is the heart of our movement, and we must include the voices and experiences of those most affected which will mean organising on the ground collectively through unions and community organisations. We will build on the work of the TUC Anti Racism Task Force in ensuring unions are safe spaces for Black workers and are actively working towards empowering Black members so that the trade union movement reflects and represents the diversity of its diverse membership. And we will commit to demonstrable plan for eradicating far right and racist extremism within workplaces and in our trade union structures.

We will train and equip reps to identify and challenge far-right narratives. We will prioritise member education to help break down disinformation and dangerous propaganda.

Beyond workplaces we have a duty to counter the right-wing narratives seeping into our communities and to present a vision of a fairer, more prosperous, and sustainable Britain. Alongside support for community organisations, mosques, and migrant centres, we must join forces to demonstrate that there is a united front against racism in our communities. This is why trade unions need to support anti-racist organisations including Stand Up to Racism. Solidarity is our greatest strength, and it’s needed now more than ever.

We will promote campaigning activity that celebrates diversity and our trade union values of equality, justice, and solidarity, and show workers that solidarity and unity will build a better future for all.

We will partner with local community organisations, anti-fascist groups, and advocacy groups to amplify our message of unity and provide a united front against far-right activities. And we will share our strategies and successes with our sister union centres engaged in the same fight in Europe and around the world and learn from their victories too.

Delivering for working people

We will encourage the Labour government to undo the damage of 14 years of Conservative rule including abolishing racist legislation and immigration laws. Their policies of austerity, neglect of public services, and wage stagnation failed working people. Delivering the new deal for working people in full is more than just a political milestone – it’s a vital step toward putting money back into workers’ pockets, securing decent jobs, and investing in our infrastructure and communities.

We will push to secure investment in our public services and build an economy that rewards work not wealth. A united Labour and trade union movement can provide the hope working class communities need and deserve. And we will be clear, that tackling the far right requires a coordinated political response that provides an alternative to the toxic narratives of hatred.

A call to action

This is a call to action for all our unions. The far right seeks to destroy everything we have fought to build. But together, united in our shared values of solidarity, equality, and justice, we can – and we will – defeat them.

Now is the moment to organise, rise up, and defend the rights of all workers. Together, we can build a fairer, more equal future for everyone.