Counter protests to the far right – advice for UNISON branches
Over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th August 2024 there was serious disorder instigated by the far-right across the UK. This came to Plymouth on Monday
Some UNISON activists joined counter protests called at short notice and others have helped communities recover and clean up. UNISON has condemned all the racist language, attacks and violence. UNISON members in their public service jobs and roles are having to respond urgently to the disorder and damage.
UNISON Regions and branches have asked for advice about the continuing situation and how best to respond if a far right march is expected in their local area. We cannot assume that it won’t come round to us again. There is clearly a far right political current using this as a tactic.
The General Secretary has issued the following short checklist for Regions and Branch officers to consider before formally backing local counter protests and encouraging attendance or otherwise that we will follow. This does not preclude individuals attending events which we might not deem safe but please don’t put us in a position where we need to defend you at work.
- The safety of UNISON members is paramount
- Follow Police advice when given
- Counter protests must be peaceful and within the law
- The branch knows the local area best and is best placed to ascertain safety concerns
- The branch should let their regional officer know if formally backing any counter protest
- Can the Region and/or Branch organise a lead steward with contact mobile phone number to attend the counter protest with a clear time and location to assemble together.
- UNISON members should stay together at all times.
- If the lead steward feels the situation is at any time unsafe they must ask UNISON members to leave the protest together as quickly as possible
- UNISON works with following organisations: Hope not Hate, Show Racism the Red Card and Stand Up To Racism. But ultimately branches must judge the local situation for UNISON members and their safety for themselves.
- Branches should look out for events and protests backed by the TUC, regional TUCs in England, Scottish TUC, Wales TUC and Irish Congress of Trade Unions. These will benefit from strength in numbers.
The Branch Committee will discuss it next time we meet, but it is likely we will again be approached at short notice and it is our intention to support our black and migrant colleagues by supporting peaceful initiatives in the city to counter any attempts by these neo fascists to organise. We have already had reports if increased incidents of casual racism in the city and it would be a surprise if the same were not true of racially aggravated assaults and hate crime.
