TRADE UNIONS PROMOTING EQUALITY

CORE VALUES People Diversity Service Improvement

Immediate halt to immigration Abolish ‘positive discrimination’ schemes Withdraw from EU Free police from ‘political correctness’ Reintroduce corporal punishment and capital punishment Employment of British workers only End foreign aid

BNP Manifesto To retain homeland and identity And stop non-white Integration Immediate halt to immigration Abolish ‘positive discrimination’ schemes Withdraw from EU Free police from ‘political correctness’ Reintroduce corporal punishment and capital punishment Employment of British workers only native Britons End foreign aid

Statements Made On gender equality; Shouldn’t make women to do jobs not suited to (Nick Griffin- BNP Website) On the holocaust Not as bad as the Jews make out (Simon Derby – BNP Deputy Leader)

Trade Unions and The Far Right A History 1933TUC argues Hitler major threat to European Peace, commonly arguing against appeasement. 1939TUC delegate gather at Bridlington after Chamberlain declares war, their leaders recognising the war “not about territory but about democracy v totalitarianism”. 1945Clement Atlee “The TUC takes its place among the victory parades of the forces of the United Nations”. Winston Churchill “we are indebted to the trade unions and never can this country forget how they stood by and helped”.

2009 “Today at a time when the trade union movement has been marginalised it is important to remember when it helped to save this country and Europe from fascism”. Robert Taylor, Associate member Nuffield College, Oxford

Challenges of Addressing Views in the workforce 1Organisational culture - attraction 2Recruitment and selection - opportunities 3The increase in support for fringe parties and decline in mainstream political engagement 4Increase in BME population 5Decline in awareness of “class struggle” 6Passing of generations – war against fascism 7Media and global communication - mythology

Good Practice in the FRS Gloucestershire Avon

Trade Union Activities 1Positively Public Campaign – housing, education, fire 2.Making the business case for diversity 3.Engaging with Unite against Fascism and Searchlight - Hope not Hate (Searchlight) – UNISON (NHS) Many Faces Make Life Work – Stop the BNP Petition “Not In Our Name”

Trade Union Activities 4.Myth busting 5.Lobbying of Parliament – Equality Bill 6.Union sections e.g. BEMM 7.International solidarity 8.Regional and Branch Action Plans 9.Distribution and display of materials

Statements made by other Organisations Police - Barring of applicants with membership of far right parties. Prison Service - Contractual agreement Government- The Government condemns any group that (CLG, Home seeks to create a division between Office andcommunities FCO)

Statements made by other Organisations Military -Far right parties are ‘seeking to hijack the good name of Britain’s Military for their own advantage” and called on them to ‘cease and desist’” (Sir Michael Jackson and Sir Richard Dannatt) Church -Christians have been … disturbed by the …….. adoption by the BNP of the language of our faith …. to foster fear and division within communities Archbishop of Canterbury

Fire Service Statement by Fire Service?

What can the Fire Service do 1Have a mature discussion and adopt a position 2Developmental equality training 3Have a robust recruitment and selection procedures 4Celebrate and Commemorate Significant Events 5Zero tolerance of all inequality and prejudice 6Review policies and practises – EIA’s

What the Fire Service Can Do 7.Define leadership role for elected members 8.Diversity champions 9.Independent scrutiny 10.Recognise that anti – far right activity work is mainstream to trade union activities 11.Rewards only for those demonstrating commitment to core values – role models 12.Sanctions for those who breach them.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING