Solidarity (British trade union)

Solidarity is a United Kingdom trade union formed in late 2005 by the far-right British National Party (BNP).[2] It is named after the Polish trade union Solidarność, and its logo (which it has trademarked) is also inspired by that of the Polish union.

Solidarity
Solidarity Union
Named afterSolidarność
Founded2005
HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
Location
Members (2022)
192[1]
Secretary General
Patrick Harrington
WebsiteSolidarity website

Solidarity recruits from all industrial sectors and professions. Solidarity has already stated that it has no plans to apply for affiliation to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and will not be bound, therefore, by agreements not to poach members from other unions.

Leadership

The first union president was Adam Walker, a BNP member and three times a parliamentary candidate (in Bishop Auckland in 2010 and 2017 and in Rotherham in 2015). Since 2015, he has been chairman of the BNP, following the departure of Nick Griffin as leader. Walker was subsequently replaced as union president by David Kerr. Kerr was replaced as president in November 2019 by Glen Nicklasson.[3]

The union's general secretary is Patrick Harrington.

Controversies

BNP funding

In a 2006 report in the newspaper Wales on Sunday, John Walker, then national treasurer of the BNP, claimed that the union was likely to contribute funds to the party:

"There probably will be a political levy at some stage to the BNP just as other unions raise money for Labour. It is quite possible and feasible that when Solidarity becomes fully functional some element of funds raised will be donated to the BNP, but that will have to be decided through consultation with the membership."[4]

Solidarity's general secretary, Harrington, responded in a letter to the newspaper that this was Walker's "personal opinion", that the recipients of union grants would be decided directly by members, and that members could opt out of the political fund if one were to be established.[5]

Solidarity's annual returns to the Certification Office from 2006 to 2018 indicate that the union has not established a political fund.[6]

Alleged front status

Allegations that Solidarity is a BNP front organisation were first made by Searchlight magazine on the Stop the BNP website on 24 January 2006[7] and repeated by Barrie Clement in The Independent on 1 February 2006.[8]

Membership numbers

In figures filed with the Certification Office for 31 December 2019, Solidarity said it had 173 members,[9] up from 139 in the previous year.[10] The same figure for 2022 stated the union has 192 members.[11]

References
  1. Patrick Harrington. "Annual Return for a Trade Union: Year ending 31 December 2022" (PDF). Solidarity – via UK Gov Publishing Service.
  2. Sadaf Meehan (6 February 2006). "BNP's Trade Union Shock". The Voice. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  3. "Solidarity has a new President". Solidarity the Union. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  4. "Union funds BNP". Wales on Sunday. 19 February 2006. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  5. Patrick Harrington. "Annual Return for a Trade Union: Year ending 31 December 2012" (PDF). Solidarity – via UK Gov Publishing Service.
    - Patrick Harrington (19 February 2006). "Letters to the editor". Wales on Sunday. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  6. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140701202912/http://www.certoffice.org/Nav/Trade-Unions/Solidarity.aspx
    - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/solidarity-annual-returns
  7. "BNP trade union unmasked". Stop the BNP. 24 January 2006. Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. "Alleged front group for BNP wins union status", The Independent, 1 February 2006
  9. Patrick Harrington. "Annual Return for a Trade Union: Year ending 31 December 2019" (PDF). Solidarity – via UK Gov Publishing Service.
  10. Patrick Harrington. "Annual Return for a Trade Union: Year ending 31 December 2018" (PDF). Solidarity – via UK Gov Publishing Service.
  11. Patrick Harrington. "Annual Return for a Trade Union: Year ending 31 December 2022" (PDF). Solidarity – via UK Gov Publishing Service.
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