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Trade Unionists and anti-racist campaigners mark one year of fight against local fascists

On Sunday, the 4th of February, trade unionists and anti-racists will come together to mark a year since the beginning of weekly protests in Erskine.

In 2023, nearly 200 asylum seekers were placed in temporary accommodation at the Muthu Hotel in Erskine. Local fascists, first in the form of Patriotic Alternative, later as Homeland, turned up to intimidate the asylum seekers and sow hatred in the community.

However, the community came together and fought back. Led by Paisley Trades Council, community members, trade unionists and anti-racist campaigners have faced down the far-right weekly, and have built friendships and alliances along the way.

Sunday the 4th will see speeches from Mike Arnott, Dundee TUC, Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary of the STUC and Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron.

Robert Parker, Secretary of Paisley Trades Council, stated:

“I really have to commend the many people who have turned up every week over the last year to confront the racists and fascists.

“While it’s disappointing that we’re still here a year on, we’ve been lucky to get to come together and meet new comrades with a shared outlook on life. People who believe that asylum seekers and refugees are welcome here, and fascists are not.

“We’ve faced intimidation, including assaults on Christmas Eve, but we have stood steadfast in our belief that fascists in the UK must be confronted and challenged.

“I’m proud of the commitment shown and grateful for the friendships made, particularly with the hotel residents.”

**Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary of the STUC, stated: **

“The campaigners in Erskine are a shining example of what is best about the trade union movement: unwavering solidarity.

“They have turned up, week after week, often in terrible weather conditions, to show their support for the asylum seekers in the hotel. The UK Government has been callous towards these asylum seekers, placing them in hotel accommodation and leaving them in limbo for months and months. Fascists have tried to capitalise on this, but their attempts to gain significant footing in the Erskine community have failed. This is thanks to the local trade unionists and campaigners who have shown that asylum seekers and refugees are welcome here.”

General Secretary’s newspaper columns

We can’t always get what we want. But we can try hard to do so The Herald, 14th October

Good news on tips for workers The Herald, 7th October

Sir Keir needs to invest - not force through endless cuts The Herald, 30th September

We must remember the lessons of the Auchengeich disaster The Herald, 23rd September

Global corporations are destroying Scottish jobs - we must stop them The Herald, 16th September

Want to let Glasgow flourish? Help its children The Herald, 9th September

Scotland’s culture cannot be for rich people only The Herald, 26th August

The deeper issues that both our governments need to address The Herald, 19th August

Far-right hate mob exploited tragedy for their own ends The Herald, 12th August

Public services denigration and nefarious far-right risks The Herald, 5th August

Workers could do with a retirement like Joe Biden will have The Herald, 19th July

Pomp. Pageantry. Performance. Politics. The Herald, 22nd July

The kids are alright and we should listen to them The Herald, 15th July

Labour must tear up anti-union legislation, says STUC chief The Herald, 8th July

Politicans should hedge their bets on the workers The Herald, 1st July

Grangemouth is first test of Labour’s commitment to a just transition The Herald, 24th June

Politicians talk the talk but they don’t walk the walk over education The Herald, 17th June

Media must step up to the plate amid the rise of the far right The National, 15th June

Green Industrial Strategy could create tens of thousands of jobs The Herald, 27th May

Failure to devolve power casts a shadow over Holyrood The Herald, 20th May

Trade unions will work with FM to help end policy failure The National, 18th May

Workers have had enough of nice ideas from the SNP The Herald, 13th May

Scottish and UK governments must not let Grangemouth refinery die The Herald, 6th May

I predict new era of cooperation between Labour and SNP The Herald, 22nd April

Scotland’s support for Palestinians IS making a difference The National, 20th April

Strike action works and we make no apologies for it The Herald, 15th April

Sunak’s Freeports are called Greenports here but there’s no difference The Herald, 8th April

Mandelson has pushed Labour to ‘soften’ New Deal for Working People The Herald, 1st April

Miners’ strike taught us justice is not achieved through asking nicely The Herald, 18th March

Anas Sarwar’s Scottish Labour plans tax cuts for middle earners The Herald, 26th February

Highland workers need action, not more rhetoric The Herald, 2nd February

Grangemouth Refinery closure must be halted The Herald, 24th November

King’s Speech proved how badly we need an election The National 15th November

We march against fascism. Would Braverman want to ban us too? Herald 14th November

We should be furious that workers were thrown to wolves during Covid The National 27th October

SNP Can’t blame Labour deluge on the weather The National 14th October

Why we must fight for the future of further education Herald 13th October

The attack on Unison’s Johanna Baxter is nonsense - here’s why The National 29th September

Labour must commit to the devolution of employment law Herald 29th September

Why we must have a wholesale revolution on social care Herald 12th September

Roz Foyer: First Minister says he ‘isn’t afraid to pick a side’ – so do it The National 9th September

It’s time to pay women fairly. Let the bosses pay the bill The National 1st September

Politicians beware: the people are not prepared to lie down any longer Herald 18th August

Strikes in Scotland seem endless? Well the workers are fed up too The National 12th August

It’s time we took back control of our buses The National 4th August

Two-child benefit cap: Dismay over lack of vision from Labour Herald 21st July

When it comes to care, we must put people before profit Herald 12th July 2023

What can we say about Humza Yousaf’s record after 100 days in the job? The National 8th July 2023

Profiteering is driving up costs and they want you to take the blame. Herald 5th July 2023

We have a real chance to deliver fairness for workers. Let’s take it. Herald 10th June 2023

Never forget Pride is a protest as well as a celebration The National 10th June 2023

The Yes campaign may have stalled but people still want change Herald 6th June 2023

Forget the coronation, profit is king in the UK The National 13th May 2023

The First Minister must stay firm on free school meals Herald 8th May 2023

What are the politicians going to do to rescue our democracy? Herald 13th April 2023

First Minister Humza Yousaf must work with trade unions to succeed The National 8th April 2023

Next first minister must show same respect to unions The National 21st March

Government has turbocharged our resolve on workers’ rights The National 31st January

 

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