TUC on how to fight racism after Brexit

The TUC outlines action government, employers and trade unions could take to challenge and defeat racist behaviour.

Unions, employers and the government must redouble their efforts to tackle the increase in racism following the vote to leave the European Union, new TUC report said.

The UK has seen a major spike in reports of racist and xenophobic incidents since the referendum, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council reporting a 57 per cent increase in hate crime in the days following the 2016 referendum.

This was on top of the Home Office observing an 18 per cent increase in hate crimes in 2014/15, and charities reporting Islamophobic and anti-Semitic incidents more than doubling.

And according to research from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), even before Brexit, racial and religious violence, harassment and abuse was not limited to online or on the streets:  there were over half a million incidents of work related violence in 2014/15.

This included being assaulted, or spat on, or being threatened with violence.

A new TUC report released earlier this month, ‘Challenging racism after the EU referendum‘, has outlined a set of immediate actions that government, employers and trade unions can take to challenge and defeat racist behaviour.

These proposals include closer monitoring of far-right activities, zero-tolerance policies in the workplace, and abolishing employment tribunal fees.

The TUC recommends that the government adequately resource police and prosecutors to deal with hate crime; monitor and address far-right activity more closely; retain existing equality legislation in any post-Brexit review of legislation and improve protections at work, such as from harassment by clients or customers; abolish fees for employment tribunals, so that victims of discrimination at work can seek justice and develop a cross-departmental action plan to deal with racism.

It recommends that employers adopt and promote zero-tolerance anti-discrimination policies, like that of Transport for London’s well-publicised policy of prosecuting those who abuse staff; have an in-house system so that staff can report discrimination at work easily and be confident employers will take racism seriously; and work with unions to train and support staff.

And it recommends unions train union reps on tackling discrimination at work; support BAME and migrant members to become more involved in branches; and survey members to gauge attitudes and identify concerns.

Commenting on the report, the TUC’s General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “Despite progress reducing xenophobia and racism in Britain, we are a long way from eradicating it.

“And the recent surge in racist incidents since the Brexit vote is deeply disturbing.

“We need to stand up for modern British and trade union values – respect for difference, dignity at work, and a deep opposition to racism and extremism.

“Trade unions have long been a part of the fight against racism, but we can and should do more – as should the government and employers across the UK.”

To download the report, click here.