UTAW@Apple

CWU RESPONSE TO NATIONAL FAR RIGHT RIOTS As you will know, the past few days has seen acts of violence against Muslim and ethnic minority communities across the country. The union has now been made aware that at least 40 demonstrations have been planned by far-right groups against mosques and refugee centres this Wednesday (7th August), with more being organised for the coming weekend. Many of these acts are being committed in the name of the three children horrifically murdered in Southport. To be clear, these violent riots have nothing to do with people in Southport, who are appealing for calm, and the attack there was not committed by a Muslim. The CWU stands in absolute solidarity with the families and community of Southport and our local branches and region have been showing their support to the community in every way possible. It is the job of trade unionists to deliver for workers and act as pillars of the community in bringing people together. The aims of our union and the labour movement are compromised and weakened if the agenda of race war beats the fight for working-class unity. As such, we ask all branch committees to contact local mosques, refugee centres and solidarity groups in order to offer our union’s solidarity and support on the ground at a time when they face severe intimidation. Finally, the need for the whole trade union movement to urgently develop and implement a new anti-racism strategy that reaches every single workplace and community in the UK is greater than ever. The CWU will be taking a lead on this and reporting back to Branches in the coming days and weeks.