1 March 2025 11:00am–5:00pm
Wesley Euston Hotel, 81-103 Euston Street, London NW1 2EZ & ONLINE
On Saturday March, Stand Up To Racism will hold its annual TUC backed trade union conference: Countering the rise of the far right, taking place at the Wesley Euston Hotel, 81-103 Euston Street, London NW1 2EZ & ONLINE.
2025’s conference is an annual event that has seen hundreds of delegates attending each year since 2016 – but with the alarming advance of the far right bolstered by Trump, Musk and Farage, this year’s conference is far from a run of mill event!
Speakers include: Daniel Kebede NEU general secretary, Kudsia Batool TUC Head of Equalities, Patrick Roach TUC Anti Racist Taskforce chair & NASUWT general secretary, Fran Heathcote PCS general secretary, Steve Wright FBU general secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust TSSA general secretary, Mick Whelan ASLEF general secretary, Ian Lawrence NAPO general secretary, Adejare Oyewole Unison National Black Members Committee chair, Steve Smith Care4Calais CEO & others tba.
11.30am registration 12 – 12.45pm opening plenary What can we do in our unions to take on the threat of Reform UK?
1 – 2.15pm workshops round one
- Return to 1930s: the changing face of fascism and our unions role in fighting it
- Developing action to implement the TUC Anti Racism Taskforce: challenging institutional racism
2.30 – 3.45pm workshops round two
- Refugees welcome: busting scapegoating myths and demanding safe routes
- Asian Fightback in Britain
- Trade Union Network to Stop the Far Right: developing organising online and in the workplace
3.50 – 4.30pm closing plenary
The international fight for a World Against Racism & Fascism: opposing the far right, Islamophobia & antisemitism
As trade unionists we carry a big responsibility – part of the biggest collective organisations of working class people that can fight for progressive politics of unity – it is essential that we organise now to fight for a strong, vibrant thread of anti racism in every workplace and union that can challenge the far right and threat of fascism.
Unions must be a force at the centre of the anti racist and anti fascist movement that can turn the tide in our communities.
The conference will take place in central London physically and with a hybrid option to participate fully online.
We are encouraging physical delegations as far as possible, with union branches passing the model motion to support and facilitate this (this can be found on our website: standuptoracism.org.uk).
The conference is a crucial space urgently needed for trade unionists and support them to lead as activists in their workplaces, branches and localities in challenging the racist myths, opposing the scapegoating, and turning the tide against the threat of racist division and far right ideas on the ground all across Britain.
On 22 March for UN Anti Racism Day Stand Up To Racism is calling on trade union support for regional and local protests, rallies, gigs and events all over Britain, taking part in the international World Against Racism & Fascism coordinated global day and week of action.
SESSIONS INCLUDE:
- Opening plenary: What can we do in our unions to take on Reform UK?
Workshops:
- Trade Union Network to Stop the Far Right: developing organising online and in the workplace
- Return to 1930s: the changing face of fascism and our unions role in fighting it
- Developing action to implement the TUC Anti Racism Taskforce
- Refugees welcome: busting scapegoating myths and demanding safe routes
- Asian Fightback in Britain
Final plenary: Uniting on 22 March for a World Against Racism & Fascism: opposing the far right, Islamophobia and antisemitism
