Public and Commercial Services Union

As part of the MYVC campaign during the elections anti-fascist/racist activity was integral. Thousands of anti-fascist flyers were distributed to PCS members and communities across the country and numerous Love Music Hate Racism events were supported by PCS activists.

In order to strengthen links with anti-fascist groups that may have been built up during the elections, branches should continue to develop their work with Unite Against Fascism, Love Music Hate Racism and Searchlight, as well as other locally based anti-racist groups.

Whilst far right parties have made steady gains over the past few years, it has been demonstrated that where anti fascist/racist groups work together to defeat the far right their ability to gain seats is severely hampered.

Voter apathy and ignorance of the far right agenda regarding black and ethnic minority groups, women, the disabled, trade unions as well as lesbians and gay men, strengthens their ability to exploit dissatisfaction within local communities.

Research indicates that the most effective weapon against the far right is to educate targeted groups about the true agenda of far right groups so that people are enthused to vote against them.

Get involved in campaigning against the far right

Branches should:

• Get involved in the make your vote count campaign.
• Raise these issues in the workplace.
• Find out if there is a local community group in your area who are already involved in campaigning against the far right and join in their activity.
• Contact other trade unions or the local trade council to find out what activities or events they are planning on anti-fascist campaigns.
• Write to your local paper about the campaign and encourage others to get involved.
• Organise leafleting sessions to raise awareness of the threat of the far right.

Case study: Anti fascist campaigning in Yorkshire and Humberside

PCS have been working with Hope Not Hate Yorkshire, Thompsons Solicitors and the TUC targeting specific wards and delivering literature where the BNP are a threat - both electorally and through their divisive campaigns in communities. PCS along with other unions adopted an individual ward within the council this year to focus their activities on.

The ward in Bradford, benefited from PCS activists leafleting regularly around the threat of the BNP. This is following worrying results last year where the BNP won the vote in every box on polling day but were defeated by the postal vote results. The narrowness of their defeat shows the importance of strong campaigning in this ward and why it was chosen as a priority area in this year's campaign. This work has been backed up by activity with the Hope not Hate Bus tour as well as mailshots.

Due to the continued threat of the BNP in Yorkshire the work on this campaign is carried out throughout the year, not just in the run up to local elections. In terms of building for the next campaign the region is running workshops to increase anti-fascist campaigning, identify more activists to get involved in the work and to raise the awareness of branches.

During the ballot for the political fund we committed to not supporting or affiliating to any political parties. Branches should ensure they encourage members to vote in any elections, but ensure that local activity does not endorse particular candidates, especially on behalf of PCS.

What branches should do if a far right candidate has been successful in the elections

If a far right candidate has been successful in the elections branches need to ensure they work with local anti-fascist groups to monitor their activity and highlight inconsistencies in the policy and practice of the candidate.

For instance in Barking and Dagenham in London the council currently has twelve BNP councillors who used the issue of housing during previous elections to highlight the need for their success to ensure white British families were at the top of the list for housing. However the same BNP councillors voted against an amendment calling on the government to lift the cap restricting the ability of councils to build new housing, at the Barking and Dagenham Council meeting on 6 December 2006, this is in direct contradiction to their election manifesto.

What branches should do:

• Work with local anti-fascist groups to monitor their activity and highlight any inconsistencies in their policy and practice
• Organise leafleting sessions to raise awareness of the far right
• Highlight the inconsistencies in their policy and practice in your workplace(s) and also where appropriate in the media

Branches however should not write to any successful far right candidates congratulating them on their election.