Welcome to the Stand Up to Racism Trade Union Network!

This network was launched in response to the threat posed by the far right in Britain in 2024. The combination of the success of far right Reform UK in the general election in July and the outbreak of racist violence and pogroms in August means we need a much bigger and more implanted anti-racist and anti-fascist network in unions and workplaces across Britain.

Most major trade unions in Britain are affiliated to Stand Up to Racism. It’s our hope to increase the number of activists in the unions prepared to join the struggle against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and the rise of the far right and fascism.

We know the far right has nothing to offer working class people. They seek to drive racism and hatred into our communities and have us blaming each other for the collapse in our pay, services and living standards instead of coming together to take on the rich and powerful in society.

We need to commit to taking on the racist poison that they spread and to mobilise against any attempt they make to grow. 

Fascist Tommy Robinson, a key figure in the emerging far right movement in Britain, has called a demonstration in central London on Saturday 26 October. Stand Up to Racism has called a counter-demonstration and is asking all trade unionists to mobilise and get to London and to help us build the demonstration in every workplace and community.

It is our aim to outnumber him on the day. The last time Robinson held a demonstration in London in July we saw 20,000 racists in Trafalgar Square and the very next week we saw riots and pogroms across England. His demonstrations give the racists confidence to go on the offensive.

We need to knock that confidence–like we showed was possible in August by mobilising mass opposition. But we cannot be complacent. That means our movement needs to mobilise in a way that it hasn’t for a generation.

The first task of this network will be to support and encourage this. We hope to build networks both within individual unions and in regions between unions that can coordinate and support this including organising mass transport, publicity and mobilisation from across the country. 

The alarming rise of the far right in Britain and across the world means there will be other tasks for this network not least of which will be halting the rise of Nigel Farage and Reform. We hope to meet semi-regularly to discuss and plan activity to boost anti-racist activity and to counter the far right on the streets and in politics.

Model motion:

https://standuptoracism.org.uk/stop-tommy-robinson-on-26th-october-model-motion-for-trade-unionists/

Please email Stand Up to Racism if your union branch has passed this motion: info@standuptoracism.org.uk

October 26: how do we mobilise to outnumber Tommy Robinson? 

We believe that what is needed from the trade unions for 26 October is to mobilise on an unprecedented scale.

We believe the trade unions are critical to bringing out the numbers that are essential to drive back the threat posed by Robinson’s street movement, as well as challenging racist and far right ideas in the workplace.

We need to outnumber them on 26 October. It is a big task, but we are confident of what can be achieved with the strength of the trade union movement.

Our vision is a huge trade union bloc with big sections led by the big union balloons and national banners with throngs of branch and region banners. In every region/nation we are looking to our unions to coordinate transport and facilitate many members to fill it.

Nationally: 

It’s important that each union takes on the task of mobilising thousands of their members in every way they can. This can be done through the support of the union nationally and regionally.

We want to see union blocs from each union with banners from branches, union flags and the national banner at the front. We want to see big delegations from across the country. We want to see union coaches full of members coming from towns and cities across Britain.

NEC members and other national officials should discuss how this can be done from using union communications: social media, emails, phone calls, texts and home mailings. We are looking to each unionnto appoint a union official in each region who is responsible for carrying out this task. 

How to mobilise in an individual union branch/workplace:

Union branches should seek to contact all of their reps and speak to them about mobilising for this demonstration. If outside of London they should seek to organise and book transport as soon as possible.

Branches can get leaflets and other publicity from Stand Up to Racism and ask reps to have workplace meetings about the rise of the far right and the importance of coming on the demonstration. Stand Up to Racism local groups can provide speakers for meetings if desired. 

Use the pledge sheet to collect names of those in your workplace who are coming and those who can help you build the demonstration.

THIS is an online hub where trade unionists can sign up (and share and invite others) to join the trade union network to stop the far right, as well as access and share information, resources, links and materials including pledge sheets, fact sheets, bulletins, flyers and posters for 26 October and other events.

All who sign up to join the trade union network will receive the links to join their relevant national network What’s App groups for their union. 

Each workplace will have specific dynamics that will assist with building the demonstration:

In schools:

• hold a lunchtime/after school meeting to discuss how to mobilise 
• order badges and posters for lunch rooms and displays 
• use the pledge sheet to go around and get names of those who want to help build 

University campuses: 

• call a student/staff meeting with student union officers, left wing student societies UCU, Unison and any other unions on campus to discuss a plan to keep campuses free of racism 
• organise transport with the SU and unions and plaster the campuses with stickers and leaflets 
• organise stunts like mass leafletting and lecture shout outs to build the demo – use the pledge sheet to find others who want to help
• set up a whatsapp group of those who want to help organise meetings, antiracist gigs and other activity 

Hospitals:

• hospitals are big workplaces with hundreds and sometimes thousands of workers
• do stalls in busy periods in the hospitals with the pledge sheet and antiracist materials from SUTR 
• put posters for 26 october onto union display boards
• mass leaflet entrances as people are coming onto shift in the morning 
• set up whatsapp group of those in the hospital who want to help 
• call a cross-union meeting in the hospital to talk about the threat posed by the far right and organise a delegation and transport from your hospital

Local government workplaces:

• call a workplace meeting to discuss the rise of the far right and the importance of coming out and mobilising for 26 october
• if a big office/workplace, reps should aim to leaflet with supporters the entrances on mornings once or twice a week in the run up to the demo 
• use SUTR posters for union notice boards and order badges for every union member 

Postal offices:

• gate meetings should be organised ASAP to discuss how to counter the far right and mobilise against the far right threat 
• order materials and posters 
• use the pledge sheet to get members to pledge to attend the demo as part of the union delegation and to help you build it

This is by no means an exhaustive list and is intended to inspire ideas about how to mobilise. Get in touch with Stand Up to Racism to discuss other ideas for sectors and industries or if you are in a workplace not listed here and want to speak with someone about ideas or for any support. 

Union Stand Up to Racism Whatsapp groups

We have WhatsApp groups per union for the trade union network – we are encouraging members to join them. For security reasons we won’t post these publicly on this page – but please email info@standuptoracism.org.uk and we will send you the link to join your relevant union What’s App for the network.