- Conference
- 2024 National Young Members' Conference
- Date
- 19 November 2024
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference condemns the violent protests called in early August by far-right and fascist groups following the tragic events in Southport where three children were killed and more were injured. They have sought to exploit this tragedy with lies and disinformation especially about migrant workers, refugees, Muslims and Black workers, leading to multiple instances of attacks on individuals, hotels and shops across the first weeks of August. We applaud the counter protests mobilised to oppose them, noting the large numbers of young people taking part.
This conference notes the 4.1 million votes gained by Reform UK in the 2024 General Election which gained them 5 MPs in Parliament including their leader Nigel Farage. Their campaign was highly focused on a divisive programme against immigration and comments particularly by Nigel Farage and others of their leaders we consider were racist. It is alarming that research is so suggesting young white men in particular supported Reform in greater proportions.
This conference believes it is essential that the trade union movement plays the leading role in building a united movement against the far-right, fascism and racism. This is especially the case as history has shown, the far-right and fascist forces have targeted unions and striking workers. 6.5 million workers are organised in trade unions across all communities throughout the UK.
This movement requires the trade unions to organise an urgent and effective campaign to fight for all jobs, to rebuild public services to at least 2010 levels and struggle for housing for all. The strike wave of 2023 showed the potential for a political alternative to a cost of living crisis and further attacks on the living standards of working class people.
Young members are essential in continuing the fight against the rise of the far right, increased involvement and recruitment of young members within our union are essential in showing an alternative to far right populism that is increasingly attracting young white men in particular. This conference believes that a failure to address this as well as not taking concrete actions to improve public services for all could lead to a growth in a rise for the far-right, racist and neo-Nazi ideology.
This conference calls on the National Young Members Forum to:
1. ask the UNISON NEC to propose that the TUC organises a major Saturday demonstration on the theme ‘Workers Unity not Division – Jobs, Homes and Public Services not racism
2. support mobilisations to oppose far-right protests and support young members to mobilise alongside the wider trade union movement and working class communities in localities and linking up with migrant groups, refugees and any targeted communities
3. continue working with Show Racism the Red Card and Stand Up to Racism to promote anti-racist campaigning and help build support for a campaign of ‘Jobs, Homes and Public Services not Racism’.
4. Support branches and Young Members officers to support specific young workers issues to clearly show that there is an alternative to the Far-Right