DEMO CALLED: 16th MAY - Oppose Tommy Robinson - Mobilise your branch NOW

Written By TUFF

At our organising meeting on April 15th, attendees agreed to call a union counter demonstration directly opposing the far right in Westminster/central London on 16 May, led by rank-and-file trade and tenant union members. 

Many details for the day are in flux and we will collectively decide our location, approach etc over the coming weeks. To enable union members to coordinate and share resources we are holding an organising meeting on 22 April, 7-8pm. This meeting will focus solely on planning for 16 May. We will share an agenda and Zoom link nearer the time. 

But do not wait for the organising meeting, take action now:

  • Gain the endorsement of your branch/region/trades council to back the demo - we will add as co-sponsors. If you gain endorsement you should contact us via email or on Instagram ASAP.

  • Speak to members and get them to commit to attending on 16 May: leaflet and set up a stall in your workplace and local area.

  • Identify volunteers to act as stewards for your branch delegation and arrange training if needed.

  • Organise a meeting for members in your branch to plan for 16 May.

  • Arrange transport to London on 16 May using branch funds.

  • Attend the national housing demo on 18 April and speak to other attendees about the need to mobilise on 16 May.

  • Share messages in your group chats, repost the callout on Instagram.

We are preparing a leaflet about the demo which you can use; this will be ready to share electronically by tomorrow. We will be leafleting at the national housing demo on Saturday. We also hope to host safety training and banner making sessions with supporting branches, which we will discuss on Wednesday.

We have also set up a WhatsApp update channel which you can follow here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7RH63C6Zvjxdzsxs42

There is much work to be done; we only have a month to build and we must work quickly. TUFF is a coordinating network but the responsibility is on each of us individually and collectively to work in our branches and trades councils to mobilise.

We cannot defeat the far right as atomised individuals. We are calling on you to organise with your branch, your region, your union, your trades council. We must bring the organised labour and tenants movement out en masse. 

TUFF