TODAY sees the TUC in the Midlands come together for its 2019 annual conference, bringing delegates from dozens of unions together collectively representing just over 1.1 million working people across our region. We come together at a historic time, with our future in the balance as the political paralysis continues in Westminster. Manufacturing across the Midlands relies on frictionless trade and just-in-time components and any deal that can eventually be agreed must contain the ability for that to continue.

Without doubt Brexit and other political events over the past two years has led to a spike in race hate and the mainstream have given a new confidence for those who seek to divide our communities. Allowing the ridicule of religious symbols and dress, describing wearers of the burka as “bank robbers” and “letter boxes” undoubtedly leads to people repeating such offence and believing they have the green light to follow that example. We cannot allow these divisions to thrive, unabated in the workplace and that is why the TUC in the Midlands is leading on a pilot course to give reps a skills set to challenge the alt-right narrative in the workplace.

Over the next few months we want to design a course, for roll-out across Britain, where affiliates can attend an accredited day of activity which will give them a skills set for transformative conversations which will address the language of division in the workplace. It is essential that the TUC is driving this agenda and facilitating our affiliates to deal with the new threats that division brings to our communities, both inside and outside of the workplace.