Statement on recent riots & member safety

Dear Colleague

We are writing to you about the recent racist riots that have taken place, targeting Muslims, people of colour, and immigrants throughout the country in the last week. Mosques, shops, immigration law offices, a library, and a taxi ferrying Filipina nurses to emergency duty have been physically attacked. The General Medical Council has expressed concern for medical staff from ethnic minorities.

University Campuses such as at Warwick University have not escaped this violence. Moreover, colleagues at conferences, events, travelling to other parts of the country, or simply getting on with their lives are facing threatening and hostile environments.

The riots appear to have mainly abated for now, especially in London as thousands of defenders of their communities and of our targeted siblings have come out on the streets to show solidarity and peaceful defence. But that does not mean this is over. 

Many of our members and colleagues will be feeling less secure today and the incitement by politicians of various stripes against immigrants and minorities will no doubt go on, as will the organisation by fascist thugs on the streets and on social media. We note attempts by Elon Musk, who has access to millions of followers on X, to whip up division with talk of a “civil war” in the UK and in Europe.

UCL UCU is an anti-racist, anti-discrimination union and we oppose fascist violence and the targeting of people of colour, religious group, racialised minorities, or individual people because of their nationality or immigration status. We stand in solidarity with all our members and wish to extend support to any member feeling vulnerable or facing discrimination in this atmosphere.

We will also be part of mobilising the trade union movement against any resurgence of these riots. We ask members to read the national UCU statement which has also appeared in the Friday email. We encourage our members to join other trade unions and community organisations by taking part in peaceful demonstrations to support and defend individuals and communities under attack, demonstrating in practice the solidarity that is inherent to the trade union movement. A National Day of Protest that will be attended by trade unions is taking place this Saturday 10 August. We also encourage our members to keep safe by travelling in groups to any demonstrations and keeping a close watch on reports of flashpoints. 

At UCL we have asked the Provost to consider the option of working-from-home for members of staff who might wish to. We’re aware this isn’t feasible for everyone, for example on-site staff who may be represented by other unions. Their safety travelling to and from work remains a concern.

The trade union movement will not let the racists and fascists take us back to a situation where minorities have to fear for their safety and security on a daily basis on the streets of the UK. Personal safety and liberty for all are fundamental to trade unions and to citizenship.

UCL UCU Executive Committee