FIGHTING RACISM

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may/june 2026 :: RMTnews 20 Black and ethnic minority RMT members vowed to take on Reform at the ballot box and in the workplace, during the annual BEMMAC conference.  The rise of Reform in the polls and the presence of trade unionists at far-right agitator Tommy Robinson’s recent demonstration has prompted widespread concern about what these developments meant for workers from diverse backgrounds and how unions can effectively resist these trends.  Midlands delegate and former national executive committee member Lee Williams said that the best way to combat the far right was effective organisation in the workplace.  “We need to maximise unity and strength among our members and reject the way the right uses differences in skin tone, faith, presentation and disability to divide us.  “Our workplaces, which reflect our society, are where we must challenge that narrative of division, standing together with our white brothers and sisters.  “We must take on the Reform narrative, reset the argument around class, and remind our members exactly what they want to take from us and impose on us,” he said. Primrose Jeanton, the union’s first black woman to be elected regional organiser, said that racism and intolerance takes hold when people were desperate, felt insecure and were handed scapegoats to blame such as migrants or people who do not look like them.  “Fighting racism and fascism effectively is not just a moral question but one of organisation.  “There are hardened ideological fascists who need to be fought and shunned by society. “But there are working class people who have sympathies with Reform who can and must be won round by the trade union movement. “We are the engine room of change in our workplaces and communities. And the brothers, sisters and comrades at this conference have a crucial role to play,” she said. Ebony Kingston-West, Neasden gave an engaging talk promoting the union’s anti fascist organising course noted how effectively the far right uses social media to transmit their views.  This includes “algorithmic manipulation bot farms and misinformation” to promote hate and division, she said. On the theme of confronting racism and corporate dominance of public space, Annila Saghir, Kings Cross noted the union’s TUC awards for social media campaigning but said that there needed to be more resources put into using TikTok and platforms that would reach younger audiences.  “The union communicates by email and we have noticeboards at work. But no young person uses these mediums anymore and we must adapt to the changing demographics of our union. “We need to look at TikTok and short video formats to communicate our anti racist messages,” she said. Several industrial issues were debated, including the impact of outsourcing on black and ethnic minority members and mega corporations engaging in “digital colonialism”. RMT regional organiser Kathy Mazur warned that outsourcing in the rail industry was driving inequality and “institutionalising racism” across the workforce. She highlighted how black and ethnic minority workers were disproportionately concentrated in low-paid, outsourced roles such as cleaning, catering and security, often with worse pay, conditions and job security than directly employed staff.   Drawing on recent site visits, she described “shocking” conditions for outsourced cleaners, including unsafe and inadequate break FIGHTING RACISM Black and ethnic minority advisory conference (BEMMAC) meets in Peterborough