UNITY OVER DIVISION

UNITE THE UNION – RESOURCE PACK

Our Aims

To understand far right narratives and how to counter them effectively at the workplace and in your community

To help Unite reps and members:

Understand far‑right narratives
Recognise how these narratives spread
Challenge misinformation confidently
Build unity in workplaces and communities

UNITE VALUES

Our union is built on equality, diversity and inclusion.

We support working people, their families and their communities—without exception.

Race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or country of origin should never limit anyone’s rights or opportunities.

We champion fairness and social justice, and we oppose all forms of intolerance and bigotry.

We stand for:

Equality
Diversity
Inclusion
Fairness
Social justice

We reject:

Intolerance
Bigotry
Division in all its forms

Unite represents working people, their families and communities — regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or country of origin.

THE THREAT OF THE FAR RIGHT

Far‑right extremists oppose:

Trade unions
Women
Black & Asian communities
Migrant people
LGBTQ+ people
Disabled people
Anyone who challenges their narrow, bigoted worldview

Far‑right narratives divide working people and weaken our collective strength — both in society and at the bargaining table.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

Economic hardship and a cost‑of‑living crisis create fertile ground for extremism
Far‑right groups are increasingly active online and in communities
Some members may be drawn to simplistic populist messages
Division weakens workers and strengthens those who exploit us

History teaches us:

On May 2nd 1933, Hitler abolished German trade unions and arrested their leaders.

Fascists have always feared organised labour.

REFORM UK: WHAT THE MEDIA DOESN'T TELL YOU

Reform UK presents itself as a party for “ordinary people”, but:

Their leader earned £2m+ from outside jobs
One 8‑hour brand job paid £280,500
Attended a £60,000‑a‑year private school
Former Tory Party member
Hero is Margaret Thatcher
Travels by private jet
75% of their MPs are ex‑Tories or donors
Their manifesto scraps workers’ rights
They voted against the Employment Rights Act
They oppose ending zero‑hours contracts and fire‑and‑rehire
Farage says the NHS shouldn’t be taxpayer‑funded
Donors include anti‑net‑zero millionaires and hedge funds

THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS

POPULISM, FASCISM & THE NEW FAR-RIGHT LANDSCAPE

Reform UK flirts with fascist ideas
Splits have created new groups: Restore Britain, Advance UK
Tommy Robinson supporters shift between these networks
Older groups (EDL, BNP, NF) have faded
Newer, more organised groups include:
- Patriotic Alliance
- Homeland
- White Vanguard

HOW FAR ‑ RIGHT PROTESTS ARE ORCHESTRATED

Example: Epping hotel protests

Organised by fascist activists with no local ties
Promoted by far‑right youth groups
“Concerned locals” often turn out to be extremist organisers
Media rarely identifies the real networks behind them

KEY REALITIES ABOUT ANTI - MIGRANT PROTESTS

Organisers often come from fascist groups
Some Reform UK members overlap with extremist organisations
41% of August riot participants had domestic violence reports
Not everyone at protests is a fascist — but fascists are always at the centre

WHAT UNITE MUST DO ?

We must:

Stand with migrant communities
Promote messages of hope and unity
Support members affected by hate rhetoric
Educate members to build critical thinking
Train activists to challenge harmful narratives
Counter misinformation
Organise around our values

NEVER FORGET

During the August 2024 riots, Unite members working in hotels were attacked by mobs shouting “get them out”.

These were ordinary workers — not political targets.

CASE STUDY: RUNCORN

Reform MP Sarah Pochin claimed migrant housing caused:

Violence
ASB
Noise
Domestic abuse

Sarah Pochin Reform MP Runcorn stated " Greenway road (Runcorn old town), is blighted by violence anti social behaviour, rubbish in the streets, noise levels, potential domestic abuse" - she attributes this to a house used to house migrant people.

The residents, police, local businesses and council all :1.00% dispute this.

The police reported zero incidents of the type so she suggested they were unreported.

Police then went door to door down Greenway road to see if perhaps people weren't reporting issues and found zero issues from the residents they spoke to, all of whom said there were no issues whatsoever.

FACT CHECKING QUIZ

Q1. How many people were granted asylum in 2024?
A: 39,616

Q2. Which country took in the most refugees?
A: Iran (3.5 million)

Q3. What % of the UK budget is spent on refugees?
A: 0.22%

Q4. How much does an asylum seeker receive per week (excluding rent)?
A: £49.18

Q5. Do asylum seekers get free phones?
A: No — charities sometimes provide SIM cards

Q6. When granted leave to remain, what happens?

A: 28 days to leave Home Office accommodation, must find their own housing, must apply for benefits or work

Q7. Do asylum seekers get priority housing?
A: No — they are treated the same as everyone else

ACTIVITY: HANDLING FAR - RIGHT NARATIVES

Use this in training sessions or workshops.

Task 1: Discuss how far‑right narratives divide communities by “othering” people.

Task 2: Choose a common right‑wing statement and prepare a 2‑minute counter‑argument.

Discussion prompts:

“Things are too woke now…”
“Stop the boats.”
“Asylum seekers get free cars and TVs.”
“Why send aid abroad?”
“Socialists spend taxes on others.”
“We can’t afford to renationalise services.”

SOCIAL MEDIA & YOUR EMPLOYER

Social media is public. Employers may act if posts:

Damage reputation
Create safety concerns
Undermine trust
Spill into workplace behaviour

Disciplinary action is common.

SOCIAL MEDIA, LAW & HARM

Extreme posts can become criminal matters
Free speech has limits
Bigoted behaviour harms colleagues
Impacts include stress, anxiety, and poor workplace culture

DISINFORMATION & ALGORITHMS

Platforms push content that keeps users hooked
“TikTok black hole” effect
Repetition reinforces belief
Far‑right influencers exploit this

HOW FAR - RIGHT MESSAGING WORKS

Well‑funded networks
Influencers amplify each other
Encourage distrust of mainstream media
Present biased content as “independent journalism”

SOCIAL MEDIA GROOMING

Far‑right grooming mirrors real‑life grooming:
Targets vulnerabilities
Often aimed at young men
Linked to misogyny and conspiracy theories

STAYING SAFE ONLINE

Think before you post
Avoid discriminatory content
Check facts
Consider how colleagues would feel
“Be kind”

DOG WHISTLES: WHAT ARE THEY

Dog whistles are coded messages that sound ordinary to the general population but carry specific meanings to a particular audience-in this case. far-right groups.

They often rely on vague or seemingly innocent language to spread exclusionary or racist ideas without direct statements.

Why Use Dog Whistles?

To avoid direct accusations of racism or hate speech.
To appeal to wider audiences while signalling specific ideas to supporters.
To divide groups and distract from systemic problems by blaming marginalized people.

DOG WHISTLES EXAMPLES

Examples include:

“We need to take our country back.”
“I’m not racist, but…”
“They’re replacing our culture.”
“We’re full — no more room.”
“Law and order.”
“Political correctness has gone mad.”
“They don’t share our values.”
“The silent majority agree with me.”
“Just asking questions.”

Each phrase:

Implies exclusion
Benefits far‑right narratives
Targets minorities or marginalised groups

WE ARE ONE, WE ARE UNITE.

Standing Together Against Hate, Bigotry and Division.