Unity is strength
Affiliate to TUFS to join with others in the fight against the BNP in your workplace and community
Trade unions are proud to campaign against the extremism of the BNP and EDL. We do this because we care about the communities in which we work and the people who live within them.
We have seen where the politics of hate can lead during the violent disturbances from Oldham in 2001 to Dudley in April 2010.
We see the BNP and EDL’s dishonest blaming of minorities for everything as a cowardly substitute for challenging those with real power to address the real problems with which we deal every day.
This campaign is a “bread and butter” matter for unions. We are only as strong as our members.
Our influence to get the better terms and conditions our members deserve depends on us having a strong and united membership.
To exclude people from membership on the grounds of race, or other arbitrary reasons would give a green light to bad employers to squeeze unions out and just employ, and exploit, those whom the far right would have us abandon. The BNP is not just an enemy of those it hates – it is the enemy of all workers.
The BNP talks about defending working people but it is only talk. It is unions who organise on the ground.
If the BNP becomes mainstream, we believe extreme anti-union policies will result. The BNP hates unions with a vengeance. We, on the other hand, will continue to represent all workers, irrespective of race or religion. That is, after all, what trade unionism is all about.
Them and Us
The politics of the BNP stand in complete opposition to the values and beliefs of all decent trade unionists. You decide which values you most associate with
Representing workers
Taxation
Workplace discrimination
Women’s Rights
- The numbers game by John Page
Arguably the most intensive local campaign in the London elections was carried out in Hackney. John Page of Hackney TUC explains how their campaigning increased turnout and built lasting links with the local community. - ‘I am a trade unionist. I oppose fascism’ by Jason Hunter
Jason Hunter, a Unison officer in the North West, makes an impassioned defence of trade union anti-fascism - Let’s talk by Nick Lowles
Nick Lowles on the need for unions to adopt a greater engagement strategy with their members - ‘Unacceptable practices’ and constitutional breaches in BNP’s pretend trade union by Sonia Gable
An official investigation into the finances of the BNP’s pretend trade union revealed that Solidarity had breached its constitution in the appointment of auditors and operated “unacceptable” financial procedures. Sonia Gable looks at what the Inspector saw and the equally interesting matters that were outside his terms of reference. - BNP scab union set for official launch by Nick Lowles
The British National Party is set for a formal launch of its scab union on 24 February in central London. It is the party’s latest attempt to woo working class voters from Labour.
On 15 May 2009 "Union Friday" (TUFS campaign against the BNP in the European elections) kicked off a day early with one of the campaign's biggest union mobilisations.
The sterling efforts of the Fire Brigades Union ensured that the whole of Scarborough received Hope Not Hate leaflets. This was mirrored by activities from numerous unions and local branches around the country.
The BNP is using the current economic climate and issues such as asylum and immigration to further its politics of hate. UNISON stands for what is right and decent, in celebration of diversity and tolerance. UNISON is proud to continue working with Searchlight’s Hope Not Hate campaign in this important work of stopping the BNP.
Unite and Searchlight have worked well together on the Hope Not Hate community-based campaigns. I would encourage our branches to affiliate to Trade Union Friends of Searchlight and join the local campaigns to beat the BNP.
The rise of the far right and in particular the electoral gains made by the BNP make the work the NUT does with Searchlight all the more important at this time. Racists and fascists cannot be allowed to peddle their pernicious messages unchallenged. The Union is affiliated to Trade Union Friends of Searchlight at a national level. I would urge Associations to consider local affiliation.
The need to organise against the fascists will never go away and so GMB will continue its work with Trade Union Friends of Searchlight and continue its total opposition and intolerance to all forms of hatred and cruelty towards people.
Searchlight has long played a crucial role in exposing the true nature of racism and fascism and the activities of the BNP and other far-right groups. It is important that union branches affiliate and give it all the practical help and assistance they can.
In this difficult economic climate, the BNP will hope to exploit people’s worries, by blaming immigrants for example. We must do whatever we can to expose the BNP’s rotten politics, and explain the risk they pose to trade unions and the solidarity we strive for. I urge trade unionists to involve themselves fully in supporting campaigns against the far right, wherever and however they can.