Disabled Workers ‘fighting back’ against the far right

I am sure that you are not surprised that we had a debate at the TUC Disabled Workers Conference about how we 'fight back' against the far right.

I managed to secure copies of two of the speeches which I am sharing with you below. When you have read these speeches please do leave your though and ideas on how to 'fight back' against the far right in the comment box below this article. If you are already actively involved please share your experiences.

The first speech I am sharing is from Jon Barr of the NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers)

Chair, conference, Jon Barr NAHT the school leaders union

Thank you to the National Education Union for proposing and to Unite the Union for seconding this important motion.

Across the United Kingdom we can see the forces of disunity on our streets, raising flags on our lampposts and trying to intimidate those they deem to be outsiders. As we saw on Saturday (16th May) in Parliament Square some of the far right are literally Led by Donkeys.

As a 62 year old it saddens me greatly to see the battles of the 1970s and 1980s return: the battles of my own youth. However it also gladdens my heart to see the trade union movement leading the fightback. We did it then and we will do it now. Those who come to threaten our inclusive values must be resisted and defeated.

NAHT may not be aligned to a political party but make no mistake we join all trade unionists in active opposition to the rise of the far right, whether it comes dressed in tweed jackets with rich friends living in Thailand or comes dressed in Stone Island with rich friends in Silicon Valley.

Only by fighting to protect all from discrimination can we protect the most vulnerable in our communities, protect the most vulnerable in our schools and protect the most vulnerable in our workplaces.

And yes as the motion says the far right are coming for all of us too…… coming for us as trade unionists, coming for us as disabled workers.

I urge conference to support this motion.

I would also like to include the speech from another delegate who spoke in the debate and apologise for not keeping a proper record of your name. You will see that it is a very good speech

Conference, this motion could not be more timely.

In the recent local elections we have seen significant gains for Reform UK, with the party taking control of council and making advances across the country.

And we must be clear what that means for Disabled People!

History shows us that the far right never stops with one target.

• First it is migrants

• Then refugees

• Then Black communities

• And before long, Disabled people are blamed for economic problems, pressure on public services and government failure.

We are already seeing the foundations of that narrative being laid.

Whether it is attacks on welfare, language around “benefit dependency”, or proposals to cut support through welfare reform and changes to Access to Work, Disabled people are being increasingly discussed as a burden instead of as human beings with rights, dignity and value.

Conference disabled people are not a burden.

• We are workers

• We are trade unionists

• We are educators, carers, support staff and public servants

• We are part of every workplace and every community.

That is why this motion matters so much.

Because it understands that fighting the far right means fighting all forms of discrimination together – racism, ableism, anti-migrant hat and hate in all its forms.

And it recognises the vital role education plays in that fight.

Schools and colleges do not just teach; they shape attitudes and values. An inclusive curriculum, diverse workplaces and anti-discriminatory education help build understanding of fear, solidarity instead of division.

As trade unionists, we know that the far right thrives when people feel isolated, angry and abandoned. It grows when communities are divided against each other.

This is why our response must be collective.

• We must challenge racism wherever we see it.

• We must challenge ableism wherever we see it.

• And we must reject attempts to pit working-class communities against migrants, refugees or disabled people.

Because none of those groups caused the crises that people are facing.

• Poverty was not caused by migrants.

• Broken public services were not caused by Disabled people.

• And insecure work was not caused by refugees

Those problems were created by political choices – by under investment, austerity and inequality.

Conference, the answer to fear and division is solidarity

• It is decent jobs.

• Strong public services

• Investment in communities

• Trade union organisation

• And an inclusive society where everybody is valued.

This motion gives us a framework to fight back together – against the far right, against hate and against attempts to divide our movement.

Please support the motion

I sat and listened to both of these speeches and was moved by both of them but especially the second speech. We have to remember that the strategy and tactics of the far right is to create division amongst working people; amongst communities and incite us to fight each other rather than unite against those seeking to divide us.

As one speaker said ‘fighting the far right means fighting all forms of discrimination together – racism, ableism, anti-migrant hat and hate in all its forms’

This is Motion 15 Disabled workers ‘fighting back’ against the far right which was debated at the TUC Disabled Workers Conference and that the two speakers contributed to that debate.

Conference deplores the blatant racism currently promoted by politicians, groups and individuals against Black people and migrants.

Conference asserts that a co-ordinated fight back is needed to prevent the hateful rhetoric from being expanded to include Disabled people as the next scapegoats for the far-right.

Conference supports embedding ideologies promoting anti-discriminatory narratives in schools, which are educators' workplaces as well places of learning for students. Conference further supports educators as agents of change and believes that educators play a crucial role in shaping societal attitudes and combatting far-right ideologies.

Conference believes that educating young people in inclusive schools, with an inclusive curriculum and a diverse workforce can mitigate against the far-right.

Conference is concerned that the government proposals on welfare and Access to Work reform are fuelling far-right rhetoric against Disabled people.

Conference calls on the DWC to:

i) Co-ordinate a united fight back by the Union movement against far-right groups.

ii) Press the Secretary of State for Education to ensure that the curriculum review delivers an anti-discriminatory, decolonised curriculum educating against hate and for inclusion.

iii) Oppose the welfare cuts and fight for better government support to keep disabled people in work and improve diversity in the education workforce.