Dave Prentis announced UNISON’s official support for Stop Trump UK at the union’s women’s conference in Brighton today, talking about the dangerous times, “times of Brexit and Trump, and the threat to workers’ rights.”
But UNISON will always campaign for equality and as part of that, said the union’s general secretary, the union will donate £10,000 to the Stop Trump UK campaign, and fully back the movement.
As well as Donald Trump, Mr Prentis talked of UKIP clinging on to the President’s coattails and Paul Nuttal telling sickening lies about losing friends at Hillsborough.
“These are the battles our friends, our families, our children and our grandchildren need us to fight,” he told the conference. “We owe it to them to stand united and to stay strong.”
“They can turn the clock back, but we are moving forward, organising, campaigning, leading the way. This is our chance to unite – to build a stronger union, a welcoming union, a women’s union.”
“Whoever you are, wherever you come from, you will always have a place in our union.”
Mr Prentis spoke about the teaching assistants in Derby and Durham who are on strike over appalling treatment, and the whole conference sent a message of support to the two groups, most of whom are women.
He also spoke in support of the WASPI – Women Against State Pension Inequality – campaign.
“At times like this when it can feel like you’ve been knocked down, it can feel hard to get back up again,” he said.
“But getting back up and keeping on fighting isn’t just the best option, it’s the only option.
“It’s the only way that change has ever been won. Not awarded from the top, but won by people like us.”
