Open letter to the Trade Union Congress Executive Committee
Trade unions must lead the fight against the far right
We are writing as trade unionists from across the movement, confronted by the most pressing threat the labour movement has faced in recent memory - and to call for our national leadership to act.
The British far right is stronger than perhaps at any point in history. We have seen months of racist agitation outside hotels housing asylum seekers, attacks at places of worship, and possibly the largest racist rally in British history marching through London in September. Reform has been leading the polls since 2024.
The far right are preparing to take power. If they do, it will be a disaster for working class people. A Reform government would attack our right to organise, further restrict unions and crack down on protest. They would spout far right lies about migrants and drive a programme of mass deportations. They would push their 'anti-woke' agenda, including climate change denial, transphobic hate and opposition to abortion. They would push an aggressive budget of cuts, gut what remains of our social security and push working class people further into poverty.
We know that refugees on small boats, women controlling their own bodies, and LGBT+ people existing, are not why we are struggling. Years of neoliberal economics, and a decade-and-a-half of crushing austerity, have shattered our communities, attacked our living standards and crippled our public services.
Unions must offer an alternative, better vision for society, leading the confrontation with the far right threat and standing shoulder-to-shoulder under a working-class political platform - to take on the rich and powerful, building homes and investing in jobs and public services for everyone - and not compromising an inch on the rights of any marginalised people.
For decades, however, we have outsourced the fight against the far right to external organisations that present no political alternative - offering them financial support and publicity, and speaking at their rallies, but not organising or educating members.
On 13th September, this left just a few thousand anti-fascists facing Tommy Robinson’s far-right mobilisation of over 100,000 - with minimal trade union presence, despite TUC endorsement, and a dangerous reliance on police protection. This model of organising and outsourcing can neither build the numbers we need, nor keep them safe.
It is positive that union leaders appear more serious about directly building the Together Alliance demonstration on March 28th. But more is needed, including serious reflection on our movement's shortcomings. It is simply not enough to hold a rally for platitudes about 'love' and 'hope'. The far-right has to be defeated politically, with sustained organising in workplaces and communities.
We need the kind of leadership that defeated the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s and the British National Party on the Isle of Dogs in the 1990s. At its 2025 session, the TUC committed once again to coordinating trade unions to counter the far right. Action - not more empty words and outsourcing - must follow.
Tommy Robinson has called another mass demonstration in central London on 16 May. As branches and activists, we will build for a trade union-led counterdemonstration, but it is imperative that the resources and organising power of our national leaderships take the lead.
To this end, we call on the TUC Executive Committee to:
Announce and lead the mobilisation for, rather than simply endorsing, a counter-demonstration against Tommy Robinson’s protest on 16 May - and future far right protests. This must be under a working-class political platform that explicitly calls for massive investment in services, infrastructure, homes and jobs for everyone, funded by taxing the rich - while directly countering any scapegoating of marginalised groups, supporting the rights of all migrants and calling for the full repeal of the anti-union laws. Although other groups will form part of this coalition, the TUC - or at least some national leaderships - must lead.
Take responsibility for recruiting defensive stewarding from the ranks of trade unionists to support these demonstrations, and provide them with basic training so that our demonstrations can be organised to defend their own legal rights and their own safety - from the far right and, if necessary, the police.
Oversee ongoing work, beyond protests, to equip and organise our millions of members to counter the far-right politically day-to-day - in our workplaces and communities, with unionisation drives and campaign material that promotes working class solidarity, public investment and taxing the rich in answer to the politics of the far right.
SIGN as an individual:
Sign as an organisation:
Signed By:
Labour movement bodies
PCS London and South East Regional Committee
Epping Forest Trades Council
Southwark Trades Council
North Devon & Torridge Trades Council
Winchester & District Trades Council
GMB Luton Branch London Region
UNITE Section of Architectural Workers
Unison Lambeth Local Government
UNITE Brighton
TRade Unionists
Puck Oseroff-Spicer, PCS SIA, Chair and London & Southeast Regional Committee, Chair
Damon Burton, Unite, Epping Trades Council
Ella Wragg, Unite Section of Architectural Workers, Co-Chair
Rose Baker, PCS R&C Croydon Regional Centre Branch and London & Southeast Regional Commitee, Vice Chair
Mark C, PCS DESNZ, Vice Chair and London & Southeast Regional Committee
Ewa Pospieszynska, NUJ London Digital Media Branch
George Wheeler, UNISON Lambeth, Young Members
Heledd Muir-McCann, PCS ONS
Kieren Guice, Unite
Jordan David, PCS , PCS Home Office Group Assistant Secretary
Roman Raynes, Unite NW/109, Branch Secretary
Frankie Coultas, PCS DfT London and South East, Southampton and SW Hampshire Trades Council
Paola Santostasi, P1102069 ARMS (retired and previously in PCS)
Declan Clune, Unite the Union Southampton, Secretary
Mayuri Deshmukh, Unite Peterborough, Osh Reilly, UNISON Birmingham
Melanie Dent, Unite Berkshire Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Community branch
Chris Brody, Unite LE523
Gabriel Neil, PCS Scottish Government
Rebecca Hunter, PCS ALB, Branch Chair
Clara Paillard, Unite NW522 / Not For Profit Sector, Branch Secretary
Clive Walder, CWU and Unite
Ben Towse, UNISON Camden UNISON, Shop Steward
Daniel Randall, RMT Bakerloo line, Assistant Secretary
Jemma Garvey, PCS MoJ Staffordshire, Assistant Secretary
Marcella Soalla-Bell, Unite Enfield community, Equality Officer
Emma River-Roberts, UCU
Tom Harris, PCS DWP SELLS, London and South East Regional Committee
Ian Moss, Unite Bristol, Member
AC Baker, IWW West Midlands, Member
Steve McKenzie, Unite Greenwich Lewisham and Bexley Community, Secretary
Jasper Bailey, Unison Suffolk County
Tom Killick, Unite Community
Richard Lawley, Pcs Darlington, Green Rep
Will Stephens, Unite Section of Architectural Workers
Adam Temple, UNISON Wakefield, Communications Officer
Rebecca Nelsey, Unison Sheffield community health,
Paul Foley, UNITE L&S Community
Richard Crook, CWU GLC
Kelly Rogers, FBU London Control, Rep
Russell Hickman, Unite Northants Community, Chair
Rosemary Kate Hughes, Unison Greater Manchester, Member
Arran Benzie, Unite, ACORN
Emma Cochrane, Unite NW/522
Janine Booth, NEU City of Leicester, Disabled Educators’ Officer
Steve Davis, Retired
Ken Small, Unison
Joel Cartwright, Unison NHSBSA, Environmental Officer
Steve Yandell, Unite LE1267
Cuba Litterick, GMB GMB Holborn
Dave Putson, UNITE GLAB, Treasurer
Warren Elliott, PCS Metropolitan Police, Disability lead
Devika Edwards, RMT Bakerloo Branch/LTRC, Assistant Chair, H&S rep and ULR
Tyrone Falls, Unite University of Bath, Vice Chair (pc)
Paul Wilding, Unison Oxford City
Clare Winter, Unison Tower Hamlets
Elijah Wisken, NEU Kingston Upon Thames, President
Jez King, NEU Waltham Forest
Mary Reape, Unite Community Chesterfield & N Derbyshire
Charmaine Evens, NEU Eastern, Leadership
Luke Woodward, NEU Bath and North East Somerset, District Secretary
Donna Jones, RMT Poole and District Bus, Chair
Daniel Murgatroyd, Unite
Duncan Morrison, NEU Isle of Wight, District Secretary
Jane Ridley, NEU South East
Andy Warren, FBU Bethnal Green Branch, Secretary and North East London Area, North East London Organiser
Nigel Grant, UNISON Lambeth
Dave Barter, NEU Rochdale, International Solidarity Officer
Marc Batchford, Unison Birmingham
Ben Clay, Greater Manchester Tenants Union Unite NW/389, Community Organiser
Juniper Losh, Prospect
James Bartholomeusz, Unite LE1267
Dave Herbert, Unite Greenwich, Lewisham and Bexley
Martin Bove, Unite NW/70202
Athene Dilke, PCS Efra London and South East Branch, BEC ordinary member
Liat Norris, PCS
Nick Doyle, PCS R&C Portsdown Vectis, Chair
Matilda Adjagba, Unite NfP, Branch Secretary
Jessica Howard, Unite Financial Conduct Authority, Workplace Representative
Gen Williams, Unison UCL
Tony Wright, Unite Community
Martin Wood, Unison Kingston University
Marie Kerrigan, Unison Hackney
Jess Cowper, NEU Richmond Upon Thames, NPYW Officer
Dave Murphy, UNITE Teesside and Durham Unite Community, Chair
Fi Weldin, PCS Croydon, Branch Chair
Billy Howle, Equity Kent, Member
Floyd Codlin, PCS Arms
Kopiga Kugananthavel, PCS London HQ Branch and London & Southeast Regional Committee
Claire Hallam, BDA London, Dietitian
Michael Holland, NEU Lambeth, Assistant Secretary
Steve VINCENT, Ex nut, nuht, bus, nur
Maria Chaffey, Unite London & Eastern, Rep
Amy Dominian, PCS DfT, Organiser
Jackie Lederer, Unite Community
George Howatt, UNISON
Cormac Kelly, NEU Kirklees, Committee member
Anthony Gard, NEU, retired
Mark Jones, Unite the UnionCommunity
Linda Greatorex, UniteSE/6217, Branch Chair
Don Flynn, Unite Greenwich, Lewisham & Bexley Community
Dan Goss, CWU UTAW
Billy Hipwell, NEU Redbridge, Rep
Bill Stockwell, NEU Redbridge, Assistant Secretary
Graham E Korn, NEU
Langelihle N Dube, NEU Nottingham
Sally Griffiths, Unison NCA Health, Assistant Branch Secretary
Sarah Sheriff, UCU ALL, Branch Secretary
Kathy Karavas, Unite Community Croydon
Shamara Gilchrist, Unison Gloucestershire
Minesh Parekh, Unite the Union
Manish Maisuria, Unison DMU, Equalities Officer
Glyn Oliver, Unite Community Southampton Unite Community
Jan Cuerden, Unite South East
Margaret Fricker, Unison Southampton Hospitals
Ishret Damani, Unison Hampshire, Black Members Officer
Gareth Paul Nelson, Unite North West
Amanda Wakely, Unison Eastleigh, Equalities Officer
Richard Abernethy, UniteSE/100R8, Secretary
Ellen Graubart, Unite Community, South East
Chris Goulart Mc Nerney, PCS Ofgem Branch Chair, Energy & Climate Group President, Scottish EC Deputy Convenor
Meg Todd, PCS Assistant Organiser and Rep
Hugo Pierre, UNISONCamden, Ex-NEC
Matthew Lee, Unison UCL, Convenor
Arif Khaliq, PCS Croydon
Ruth Gilburt, NEU Bromley
Ted Watson, PCS ARMS
Simon Tempest Brown, Unite
Richard Edwards, PCS ARMS Eastern, Secretary
Winston Murray, PCS ARMS, Treasurer
Rachel Gallagher, Unite Kent
Julie Webster, PCS, Industrial Representative
Anthea Jones, NEU Cambridgeshire, Early Years Officer
Edwina Thomas, Unison Leeds
Roxanne Johnson, UNISON East Midlands
Bernadette Ellis, Unison Manchester, LGBT+ OFFICER
Judy Furmston, Unison Cumbria, Lgbt+ Officer
Liam Crawford, UNISON West Cheshire, LGBT+ & Assistant Branch Secretary
Aiden Fraser, UNISON Manchester and North West, Steward and Trans Members Officer
Erin Oliver, Unison Knowsley, Workplace Representative
Lesley Lancelott, UNISON Manchester Local Gov, NW Regional Women's Committee
Hajrah Ullah, Unison Manchester, Rep
Dawn Warriner, UNISON Manchester, LGAssistant Branch Secretary
Tamara Parker, Unison Greater Manchester Transport, Equality Officer
Clare Ashton, Unison Knowsley, Work place rep
Jonathan Lilly, Unison LBTH local government, Convener, housing and regeneration
Abeda Sultana Uddin UDDIN, GMB L45 Luton, Branch Equality Officer
Linda Cleary, NEU Redbridge
Steven Jouanny, PCS DWP Sheffield Branch officer,
Michele McCartan, Unite Bradford, Rep
Pamela Blakelock, NEU Southwark International Solidarity Officer
JHON FREDY VELEZ RODRIGUEZ, BFAWU SUMA WHOLEFOODS BRANCH, OFFICIAL
Shawn Emefiele, Unison Northampton Hospitals, Chair
Abeda Uddin, Gmb Luton/shools, Equality Officer
Cathy Nugent, NUJ London Magazine Branch
Benjamin Anthony Goldstone, Unite LE1111 Housing Workers Branch, Workplace Rep and Equalities Officer
Karren Morrison, UNISON Forth Valley Health Branch, Branch Secretary
Tom Green, UNITE Brighton, Hove and South Coast, Secretary
Joseph Dunne-Howrie, UCU Bexley, Co-Chair
Elaine Fullaway, Unite Winchester and District Trades Council, Secretary
Alexis Edwards, PCS London ARMS, Secretary
Anne-Marie Toal, Unite EMLE65, Branch Equality Officer and Vice Chair
Mark Boothroyd, Unite LE/7101L, Secretary
Pamela Blakelock, NEU Southwark, International Solidarity Officer
Sian Michelakakis, UCU Newham College, Branch Secretary
Luisa Pitzulu, Unison University Westminster Unison, H&S Officer and Steward
Robin Layfield, Unite Community Bristol, Swindon & Gloucester
Ed McDonagh PCS DESNZ Organiser,
Alison Brown, Unison Sheffield Teaching Hospital,
Jason Hill, NEU & MUStaffordshire (NEU); Midlands (MU)
Rebecca Nelsey, Unison Sheffield community health
Neil Morrin, Unite NW522, Chair
Janine Booth, NEU City of Leicester District, Disabled Educators' Officer
David Habberjam, FBU Northumberland Brigade, Organiser
Emily Perdue, Unite LE/0775M, Secretary
Hollie Codling, Fire brigades union Fairness at work, Fairness at work north east region
Jake Drinkwater, Fire Brigades UnionRegion 2, Organiser
Colin John stewart, R M T Plymouth no 1, Disability officer
Ruth Cashman, Unison Lambeth Local Government, Joint Union Secretary and Lambeth Trades Council, Chair
Addie Walsh, RCN
Tony Byrne, RMT (retired) Nottingham
Tony Barnsley, UNISON Sandwell General, Branch Secretary (personal capacity)
Arti Dillon, Unite LE524
Sol Gamsu, UCU Durham University, Treasurer, Past President
Vijay Menezes-Jackson, PCS Union DWP Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders, Branch Organiser, former NEC & SEC member
chris preston, Unite Retired, West Yorkshire Calderdale Trades Council
Caleb Day, Unite Unite UCU, Member
Chris Smith, Unison Westminster, Branch Secretary
Eden Eden, Unison Devon County Council [Retired Member]
Robert Waterman, PCS Now retired
John Simister, UCU Manchester Metropolitan University
David Jones, UNITE Nottinghamshire Retired Members, Treasure
Alice Nuttall, IWW Reading
Richard Sayle, NASUWT Retired Members
Harry Lewis, Unison Gloucesterhire County
Heather Grimmer, Nasuwt
Paul Collyer, Former Unison now working for myself
Richard Jenkins, PCS
Angela Allport, Community Faith Workers
Tim O'Connell, Unite south west
Neil Bradley, Unite, Shop steward
Glyn Challinor, Retired
Joanne Small, UNISON
Rosemary Rayner, BMA, Retired doctor
Tim Vialls, Unison Exeter
Alex Hilton, Unite Coventry
Kelly Christopher, Unison
Sid Clough, Prospect Met Office/ Retired
Jackie Ferriter, Unite
Craig Murray, Unifor Local 444
Tony Rimmer, CWU and UNITE Retired/Community
John Alexander Rennie, UNISON Monmouthshire Branch
Sheila Ellix, Unite EM/512
Pete Firmin, CWU , vice-chair, Brent Trades Council
Matthew Lumley, BMA
Elizabeth Gaynor Lloyd, Unite community Brent & Harrow
Matthew Fulton-McAlister, NASUWT, Senior Regional Official
Eric Amos, Unison Retired
Richard Spencer, TSSA Retired Group
Monica Martin, UNITE London and East, Representative
Michael Padfield, Unite Retired Members
Dawn Judd, UNITE Community Preston
Mike O'Neill, Unite Community Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Branch
Jess Carrington, Unison Norfolk County, Labour Link Officer
Ed Hall, NAS/UWT Bristol, Member
Hen T, IWW Manchester
marie-louise rabouhans, Prospect, retired
Andy Hoskins, GMB
Neil Wigglesworth, UCU University of West London
Nathan Oseroff-Spicer, Unite Rep
Sarah Simpson, FBU Region 1, Health and Safety
Clive Protheroe, RMT Bakerloo line, Branch Chair
Graham Martin, PCS
Mike Cowley, EIS FELA Edinburgh College, Branch Convenor
Stan Crooke, Unite and GMB Unite Not for Profit/GMB-APEX (Glasgow), Branches' caseworker
Dave Statham, GMB Holborn branch
John Burns, Prospect Bectu
Jim Tattersdale, IWW (UK)Courier
Clare Bonetree, Community
Una McGinley, Unite Ulster University
Robert Elm, CWU UTAW
Leslie Cunningham, UniteNot for Profit Edinburgh
Nik Barstow, Unite NW/0270
Thomas Faulkner, NUJ East Sussex
Matthew McIntyre, Unite
Pam Wortley, Unite Doctors in Unite
Gary S-G, PCS
Jonathan Boud, Communication Workers Union, Harrow & District
Maximilian Neal, PCS R&C Croydon
Graham Checkley, Unite Lothians Retired Branch, Vice Chair
Joe Shotton, UNISON & NEU, Barnet Rep at School
Lisa Rull, UCU University of Nottingham, Co-Equality Officer
Jo Edge, UCU University of Hertfordshire, NEC member
Matthew Barnard, UCU MMU NEC, UK Elected HE
Charlie McLeod, PCS PCS SIA, Organiser
Matilda Fitzmaurice, UCU Lancaster University, LGBTQ+ rep for Higher Education, UCU NEC
Euan Healey, UCU
Josh Bowsher, UCU Sussex, Departmental Rep
Madeleine Moore, UCU Loughborough, Women Members SC
Chris Parkes, UCU King's College London, Equalities Officer
Sinead Collins, Unison Scotland
Vivek Thuppil, UCU Bangor University, Chair of Migrant Members Standing Committee and NEC Representative of Migrant Members (non-EU)
Eleanor Janega, BECTU
Alex Fernandes, BECTU Theatre Freelancers, Co-Secretary
Katharine Spratt, PCS Bristol & Reading Revenue and Customs Branch, Member
Aurelien Mondon, UCU University of Bath
Jennifer Wright, BMA
Anna Bruce-Hou, PCS Met Police, Group Vice President
Andy Angeli, Artists’ Union England
Patrick McManus, Musician's Union
Josie Sandercock, Unite & IWGB Health
Felix Curry
Dan Stone, Unite SAW
Cameron McKay, Unite LE801, Secretary
Bijan Parsia, UCU University of Manchester, NEC Disabled Members Representative (Higher Education)
Gillian Jack, UCU Open University, Equalities Rep
Toby Litt, UCU University of Southampton, Union Rep
Úna Byrne, GMB/UWU
Nicola Perry, Unison Derbyshire, Member
Dave Thorpe, Equity/UCU Devon, Cornwall & Wessex/City Lit., Equalities rep (City Lit.)
Leah Coyne, PCS Efra Group, Group President
Alex Prichard, University of Exeter UCU, President
Angie SMITH, PCS
Shaan Ali, PCS MHCLG branch asst sec, L&SE regional committee
Eleanor Clarke, PCS Cabinet Office Branch, Chair
Joshua Chown, PCS Home Office HQ London, Assistant Secretary (PC)
Joe Dale, PCS
Dan Durcan, PCS Efra Group, Group President
Charlie Wrixon, PCS Revenue and Customs
Archie Mellor, PCS Stratford
Annie OConnor, PCS DESNZ, Secretary
Stephen Black, PCS
David Roan, PCS DfT East Midlands, Branch Organiser
Andy Warren, FBU Bethnal Green, North East London Organiser
Joseph Dunne-Howrie, UCU Rose Bruford College, Co-Chair
Winston Murray, PCS ARMS, Treasurer
Joaquim Marques, PCS The Wallace Collection- Culture sector, Equality & Organiser officers
Kate Holman, NUJ
Markus Bettin, UNISON Cornwall Acute Health
Tracy Brown, GMB
Nathan Warren, GMB Wales & South West
Caroline kordecki, UCU Nottingham
SIMEON JENKIN, Usdaw Hertfordshire
Dara FitzGerald, Unite Digital & Tech, Vice-chair
Anna Pichierri, Unison South West London Mental Health, Shop Steward
Tim O'Connell, Unite southwest
Matt Lee, Unite Brighton SE/6246, Member
Karl Howarth, IWW Norfolk
Denzil Dean, IWGB Charity Workers Branch
Patrick O'Callaghan, UNISON Islington, Health and Safety Officer
Susy Giullari, UVW, member
Jenny Mackley, Unison Islington
M Allen, Unison Health - North and West Surrey Heath, Branch Secretary - personal capacity
Dave Murphy, UNITE Teesside and Durham Unite Community, Chair
Matilde Bertini
Michelle Lawrence
AJ Cho
Richard Smart
Abdul Jallo
James Thawley
John Gray
Martin Weller
Susan Lorrimer
Fangda Mei
Richard Taylor