Model motion for trade union branches:
•Stop racist scapegoating •Support 21 March 2015 UN anti-racism day marches •Organise to stop Ukip This branch notes: •The growth of far right and fascist organisations across Europe. •That, in Britain, Ukip won a further 11 MEP’s in the 2014 European election bringing their total to 24, based on a 27.49 percent national share of the vote. And in the local council elections they won 163 seats, an increase of 128. •UKIP won the Rochester and Strood by-election in November. This encouraged UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, to say that he was doubling his expectations of the numbers of seats Ukip could win in the May 2015 election. •That the Tories are pushing for tighter immigration controls. •The founding of the ‘Stand Up to Ukip’ (www.standuptoukip.org) campaign which held a successful demonstration of 1,000 people outside Ukip’s conference in Doncaster on 27 September 2014. •The successful ‘Stand up to racism’ (www.standuptoracism.org.uk) marches saw 7,000 people march in London, 1,000 in Glasgow and 500 in Cardiff on Saturday 22 March 2014—to coincide with UN anti-racism day. These demonstrations united diverse community groups and had strong union backing (including the TUC) at a crucial moment in the build up to the 2014 elections.
This branch believes: •UKIP has made electoral gains through the scapegoating of migrant workers for the economic crisis. •Migrant workers cannot be blamed for the squeeze on living standards, housing shortages and attacks on public services—these are driven by Tory ‘austerity’ policies. •That the Tories have been central to blaming migrant workers for the economic crisis and their push for tighter immigration controls is fuelling racism. They are trying to ‘out-Ukip’ Farage. •That Ukip and the Tories’ racism must be challenged and Ukip’s gains must be urgently reversed. •That the Labour leadership has so far failed to effectively challenge the right’s attacks on migrant workers. •That strikes, such as the recent hospital workers’ strikes, that have united black, white and Asian workers on the picket lines, are an important part of the antidote to Ukip’s growth, as well as the best way to beat austerity. •That if Ukip and the Tories have their way, racism will remain a filthy, central element to the 2015 election campaign. •That the ‘Stand up to racism’ demonstration planned, to coincide with UN anti-racism day, on Saturday 21 March, will come at an important moment in the build up to the 2015 election. It can be a concrete rejection of the Tories’ and Ukip’s gutter politics and deserves our full support. •That the trade union movement must continue to place itself at the forefront of the struggle against racism and fascism. Migrant workers aren’t to blame. There is plenty of money in Britain. Taxing the tax evaders and avoiders would be a good start! •That our trade unions must be at the front of the fight to defend migrant workers from these attacks and reject “British jobs for British workers” type slogans which lead us down a dead-end.
This branch resolves: •To send our branch banner, publicise and organise the largest mobilisation possible to the 21 March 2015 ‘Stand up to racism’ demonstrations. •To affiliate to ‘Stand up to Ukip’ and support and publicise it’s initiatives. Please send affiliations (with a discretionary donation, suggested £50) to: Stand Up To UKIP, PO Box 72710, London, SW19 9GX Cheques should be made payable to “Stand Up to Ukip” Email: info@standuptoukip.org if you need more information.