Employers should adopt and promote zero-tolerance anti-discrimination policies, such as Transport for London’s well-publicised policy of prosecuting those who abuse staff. So says the Trades Union Congress after the UK vote to leave the EU, according to a new TUC report. It follows the UK’s reported spike in racist and xenophobic incidents since the referendum, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council reporting a 57 per cent increase in hate crime in the days following the referendum. This was on top of the Home Office observing an 18 per cent increase in hate crimes in 2014/15, and charities reporting Islamophobic and anti-Semitic incidents more than doubling.
The TUC report, ‘Challenging racism after the EU referendum’ includes a set of immediate actions that government, employers and trade unions can take to challenge and defeat racist behaviour. Proposals include closer monitoring of far-right activities, zero-tolerance policies in the workplace, and abolishing employment tribunal fees.
Alongside the report, the TUC also published a guide with information and practical advice for union reps on combatting racism in the workplace.
Commenting on the report, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Despite progress reducing xenophobia and racism in Britain, we are a long way from eradicating it. And the recent surge in racist incidents since the Brexit vote is deeply disturbing. We need to stand up for modern British and trade union values – respect for difference, dignity at work, and a deep opposition to racism and extremism. Trade unions have long been a part of the fight against racism, but we can and should do more – as should the government and employers across the UK.”
The TUC called on Government to among other things adequately resource police and prosecutors to deal with hate crime. The TUC’s report, Challenging racism after the EU referendum, can be downloaded from the TUC website: www.tuc.org.uk/. The TUC guidebook for employers and union reps Combatting racist abuse in the workplace can be downloaded here: www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/CombattingracistabuseTUCguide.pdf.
