Increase in 'attacks and racist abuse' towards workers, says trade union

Trade unionists in Scotland say there’s been an increase in the number of attacks and racial abuse towards black and minority workers.

The Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC) has told STV News that workers are “scared” and seeing a rise in so-called far-right material in their workplaces.

It comes amid heightened racial tensions and months of anti-immigration protests throughout the UK.

Arrests have been made at a number of demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers in places like Aberdeen, Glasgow, Falkirk and Edinburgh.

This weekend, a record number of people are expected to attend a conference in Glasgow in response to racist rhetoric and so-called far-right activity.

Cheral Govid moved from England to Scotland 11 years ago, but recently says she has noticed a change in societal and workplace attitudes.

She told STV News: “It’s just got to the point where there’s more paraphernalia, let’s say, even in the office.

“There’s been a ‘far right’ newspaper left out there, accidentally or not, we don’t know.

“It is just scary. I listen to the people who came before me.

“We stand on the shoulders of giants, and I feel like we are regressing back to that, people who are older than me who’ve been through it, and they are equally scared.”

Raza Sadiq, STUC Black Members Committee, added: “I came to this country probably 35, 36 years ago.

“I’ve given more to this community than the country where I came from. That shows the contribution made by people. That needs to be celebrated.

“Austerity has been fueling hatred, but instead of people going and marching against those failing us, they are marching against those who are powerless.”

Linda Sommerville, deputy secretary of the STUC, said: “There are people using language and behaviours in workplaces that would have been completely unacceptable a year ago.

“What goes on online is now happening in our streets, and it’s now happening in our workplaces. There’s increasing tensions, and there’s a lot of increase in hate crime.

“That takes a really visible toll on black workers.

“It’s not just in name-calling, as offensive as that is, but we’ve seen an increase in assaults and behaviours that are completely unacceptable.”