Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “At a time of unprecedented challenge for the anti-racist movement across Ireland and internationally, we commend the role trade unionists and others have played in offering solidarity to migrant and Black communities under threat from racist violence and abuse. We unreservedly condemn the anti-migrant riots that took place in the North of Ireland during the summer, and the sharp rise in racist hate crime which has reached its highest level since records began.
“We reject the far right’s racist lies about ‘protecting’ women and girls. The far right seek to exploit violence against women to fuel hate and division. We stand in solidarity with refugees and migrants, many of whom are themselves survivors of violence, war and persecution. Blaming people newly arrived in Ireland distracts us from tackling the deep-rooted causes of abuse against women and girls, and from holding those responsible to account.
“Our focus is the wellbeing of all women and girls, including those in refugee and migrant communities right across Ireland. Those who have come here to work, study, join family or seek protection are an asset to our country. Trade unions have a vital role to play in welcoming and supporting them and valuing their contributions.
“Ireland is also witnessing a rise in aggressive misogyny, domestic and sexual violence, along with abuse against women and girls. The far right are undermining our work to tackle misogyny and reinforcing the damaging myth that the greatest risk of gender-based violence comes from strangers.”
Usdaw is calling on the ICTU to:
- Continue to play an active part in the anti-racist movement across the island of Ireland at every opportunity.
- Seek to broaden the conversation and change the narrative on migration to reflect the positive contributions of migrants.
- Highlight the fact that migrant women disproportionately experience homelessness, lack of access to healthcare, and unfair working conditions.
- Support affiliates to identify Black women activists, recruit new Black women reps and remove barriers to their participation in their unions.
- Actively support affiliate efforts to train union reps in anti-racism and anti-sexism.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion