Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “Far right and conservative forces across the world are weaponising hard-won LGBT+ rights, leading to their erosion and a growth in violence. Hateful narratives about LGBT+ people are repeated and amplified on social media platforms, further emboldening those with homophobic, biphobic and transphobic views.
“Trade unions are mobilising and organising against the far right and offering solidarity to LGBT+, Black and other discriminated against groups of workers and communities under threat of violence and abuse. Now more than ever, LGBT+ people need allies in their unions and workplaces to challenge discrimination, call out abuse, create safe, welcoming and inclusive workplaces and stand in solidarity with LGBT+ workers.”
Usdaw is calling on the TUC to:
- Work with affiliate unions to promote the need for allyship to defend, protect and further promote LGBT+ rights.
- Encourage unions to continue to create safe spaces for LGBT+ workers to come together and to actively remove barriers to their further involvement.
- Support affiliate efforts to train union reps in challenging far-right narratives.
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