Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Today’s
Wear Red Day is a timely reminder that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect at work, particularly after the rise in reported hate crimes following the 2016 referendum. Regardless of race, religious belief or national origin everyone must be allowed to go about their lives free from fear of abuse.
“Recent statistics show that reported hate crimes in England and Wales have more than doubled since records began. 76% of these crimes are race hate crimes. In Northern Ireland last year racially motivated crimes exceeded sectarian ones for the first time and although Scotland bucks the trend with reported race hate crime decreasing it remains the most commonly reported hate crime with over 3,250 incidents reported in 2017.
“Across the country Usdaw reps are organising
Wear Red Day events in workplaces to raise awareness and funds for educational work delivered by
Show Racism the Red Card.
“Today’s activities complement Usdaw’s
No room for racism campaign, which involves hundreds of the union’s reps running workplace campaigns all year round; doing what our reps do best, standing up for workers at the sharp end, bringing people together. They engage members, non-members and employers with our anti-racist message - not in my name, not in my workplace.”
Notes for Editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
Show Racism the Red Card is an organisation that for over 20 years has been educating young people about racism and with the help of role-models, including professional footballers, at special events at football clubs and through educational films. Usdaw works closely with
Show Racism the Red Card, who have supported a number of anti-racism campaigns in Usdaw workplaces.
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion