Our duty is to stand united in opposition to racism and fascism
In her latest column for Activate, Fran discusses how anti-racism and anti-fascism is a fundamental principle of trade unionism and examines the role our activists must play in opposing the politics of the far-right.
An attack on one is an attack on all – that is a fundamental trade union principle, and it is our duty as trade union activists to stand united in opposition to racism and fascism wherever it rears its ugly head – in our workplaces, in our communities and in our politics and media.
Just as the right-wing press is beginning to lose influence, a new far right axis on social media is peddling hate and misinformation – serving it up to people directly to their phones and PCs. Owners like Elon Musk and influencers like Andrew Tate are just as influential and dangerous as parts of our printed media have been for years.
We saw the consequences of that in the summer when online influencers peddled hate, division and misinformation to mobilise a large number of people.
It is our role as trade union activists to promote truth, education and solidarity – and to tackle the lies and hate that can result in the awful violence and division we saw earlier this year.
That’s why as part of PCS’s Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism strategy we will also continue to work with numerous organisations including Hope not Hate, Stand up to Racism, Show Racism the Red Card and Care4Calais, in the ongoing fight against racism and fascism.
Hate and division only has the conditions to flourish because there is despair and disillusionment with politics to improve working people’s lives – as people’s living standards worsened, and public services were cut, under the last government.
This Labour government was elected promising ‘change’, and there have been some welcome shifts in policy: an above-inflation pay deal for the first time in years; the Employment Rights Bill currently going through parliament improves workers’ and trade union rights for the first time in decades; and the railways are coming back into public ownership.
But more troubling is Labour’s cut to the winter fuel payment and their plan to cut £3 billion from disability benefits – causing huge anxiety to disabled people, who already face higher levels of poverty and destitution.
While there will always be disagreements with the government of the day, the far-right doesn’t offer any solutions, just scapegoats.
We as a trade union movement have to unite working class people – and oppose those who seek to divide us – a union movement that celebrates, not suppresses, our diversity as a class.
We must take a firm stand against fascism and the far-right, deliver for our members and take seriously our own responsibilities to educate and represent everyone equally.