Scotland’s largest trade union body holds 40th anti-racism march in Glasgow

Scotland’s Trade Union Centre (STUC) held its 40th annual anti-racism march and rally in Glasgow on Saint Andrew’s Day, Scotland's de facto national day. The event called for inclusivity, solidarity with refugees, and rejection of far-right ideologies.

This year’s march celebrated the trade union’s 40 years of resilience in combating racism, particularly as immigration and far-right extremism have become pressing issues across Europe, according to the STUC.

“Fascism is rising in Europe, and I think it’s important that people stand up against it,” said Caitlin Dransart, 25, a fresh university graduate. “As a white person, having quite a privilege in society, I think I have a responsibility to speak for people who are marginalised.”

Founded in 1897, the STUC today represents over 550,000 workers through its 40 affiliated trade unions and 20 trade union councils. According to the union, it is recognised as Scotland's largest civil society organisation.

The STUC began the tradition of organising mass anti-racism marches in 1983 when Scotland saw its first major anti-racist counter-protest in Glasgow,  the country’s largest city.

Gordon Davie, 75, a retired occupational therapist, said racism is still a major concern in the UK, and said if racism is not pushed back, it will lead to civil war and massive violence.

“The driving force of racism today is fear, fear that is exploited and built upon by politicians,” said Davie. “Fear comes from people not being able to afford to buy a house and buy their groceries. All these are caused by the economic system,  people are deprived, so they look for someone to blame and they blame immigration and refugees.”

Davie said the major political parties in the UK are too complacent in addressing racism, and it is helping right-wing populist parties.

“If they don’t address the issue much more strongly, then extreme-right parties like Reform UK might win a lot of seats in the next election, and when they start seeing the danger they would be too late,” Davie added.

The march began in Glasgow Green in the city centre and proceeded to Adelaide Place Baptist Church for a rally.

Zamard Zahid, former teacher and an anti-racism activist, acknowledged the outstanding work of trade unions and community organisations during a speech in the post-march rally at Adelaide Place.

“My parents’ generation came to this country and thought they were coming to a land of green and gold, but what they faced was organised far-right groups that hated them,” said Zahid, “But they refused to be intimidated by the power of the state, and refused to be intimidated by racism, and they fought back.”

“They formed a strong labour movement, and a strong anti-fascism movement with resilience.”

“Just as Nazism was defeated, we will defeat racism and fascism when we stand united as a movement,” Zahid added.

Alison Bavidge, 58, National Director of the Scottish Association for Social Work, who was at the march representing the association, said that although the national government hopes to have a softer approach on immigration, it needs to do more.

“We have persuaded the Scottish Government to establish a national oversight group for anti-racism in social work,” said Bavidge. “We have also been developing anti-racism learning resources for social workers and also for everyone nationally.”

“We need to make sure that racism is not acceptable,” added Bavidge, “not only on the individual level, but on the structural and policy level.”