90th anniversary of Nazi ban on trade unions is marked today

• The TUC calls for solidarity across civil society in defence of democracy and against racism and extremism

On 2 May 1933 – ninety years ago today (Tuesday) – trade union buildings across Germany were raided and seized by Nazi stormtroopers.

Free trade unions were banned. Many trade union leaders were arrested, some were tortured, and some did not survive imprisonment in concentration camps in the years that followed.

Independent trade unions were replaced with a Nazi-controlled German Labour Front, which served as a propaganda tool for the regime and its hate-filled antisemitic ideology.

Trade unions are a bastion of democracy and freedom against authoritarian and violent regimes, says the TUC. And the union body encourages alliances between trade unions and other parts of civil society to counter the far right.

As part of its approach, the TUC provides training and resources for union reps and leaders to counter racism, including antisemitism, and to counter attempts by the far right to recruit in workplaces.

Persecution of trade unionists today

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) global rights index monitors the denial of workers’ rights and trade union freedoms, and the persecution and murder of trade unionists.

In 2022 trade unionists were killed in thirteen countries, and workers were exposed to violence in 50 countries.

Trade union suppression often occurs under the same regimes as racially targeted violence by state forces or paramilitary forces. In recent years this has included Colombia, Brazil and Myanmar.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“Trade unions promote democracy in the workplace and beyond. That makes us a target for authoritarian regimes. When we come under attack it is a sign that democratic government is in danger too.

“Ninety years on from the Nazis banning trade unions, there are lessons for us today.  Solidarity matters not only within trade unions. We must build out alliances across civil society to counter antisemitism and racism in all its forms. And we must actively organise against attempts by the far right and other extremists to spread their hate-filled ideology.”