Ameen’s vicimisation represents a threat to the whole trade union movement
Over 100 people gathered outside Salford Town Hall, Greater Manchester, in defence of anti-racist campaigner and trade unionist Ameen Hadi last Wednesday.
Tens of trade union branches and organisations attended the lobby to show solidarity with Ameen and his union branch, Salford Unison, who have been targeted by a far right smear campaign.
Branch equalities officer Ameen was placed under investigation by his employer Salford City Council after malicious allegations by the followers of Tommy Robinson and far right YouTube channels.
Labour councillors joined the lobby before the meeting. Paul Dennett, the Mayor of Salford, said, “For me, what Ameen represents is what this city is all about.
“We often talk about the welfare of the people being the highest law. Ameen epitomises that in all the work he’s done both as a trade unionist and an anti-racist, anti-fascist activist.
“I will always stand in solidarity with what this movement is about.”
Ameen urged people to join the Together alliance’s march against the far right in London on Saturday 28 March and stand up to racism. He said the “attack on migrants is an attack on all of us” and “we have to stand up to that now”.
“I’m not sleep walking into a Reform UK government in two years—and it could be sooner the way Starmer is going,” he said.
“I don’t want to see Ice on our streets. That’s what they are threatening to do so they can mass deport 600,000 people.
“When they say that they’re only concerned about stopping the boats, it’s a lie. They just don’t like black people—it’s racism that drives them.
Laura, a Unison union member in Manchester, told Socialist Worker, “At the lobby of Salford City council, the feeling was strong that the campaign would win and that we would work together to drive back the far right.”
She said it was a “disgrace” that Salford City council had made the decision to place Ameen under investigation.
“This is an attack on the whole trade union movement,” she said. “But, in particular, it is an attack on an activist who has been visible in supporting strikes and in the anti-racist movement in Manchester.”
At this time of the growth of the far right across Britain, Salford Council should be standing against the far right, not victimising workers and trade unionists who do.
“The council has chosen to believe the far right over one of their own workers. That is not a neutral choice.
“These actions by the council encourage the far right to go after any council worker, Unison member or campaigner that stands against them.”
She explained that the far right’s targeting of Ameen was part of an organised campaign to intimidate trade unionists. “If you go to any anti-racist protest in Manchester, activists are being harassed by far right Youtubers and threatened,” she said.
“What we need to see now from the trade union leadership is standing with activists under attack and mobilising people against the far right. That’s in all our best interests.”
Trade unions, campaigns and councillors at the lobby
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