Today sees the annual STUC St Andrew’s Day march and rally against racism. 

Marching through the city centre to a rally at the Glasgow Film Theatre, trade unionists, political parties and community activists will demonstrate that, in a fast-moving and exciting political period — but one in which race, religion and immigration are also the subject of febrile debate across Britain — the central concept of solidarity is alive and well in our movement.

When the STUC conceived the event over a quarter of a century ago, it was in part a response to far-right attempts to claim St Andrew’s Day as a vehicle for promotion of race hate.

By creating an event organised by workers and anti-racism organisations such as Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance — now the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights — the Scottish trade union movement made clear that it would not stand by in the face of attempts to divide working-class Scotland. 

This was an approach echoing the tradition of the battle of Cable Street in 1936, when trade unions, the Jewish Labour Council and the Jewish People’s Council Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism, along with the Independent Labour Party, Labour League of Youth, Young Communist League and the Communist Party, all came together to oppose Oswald Mosley’s blackshirts.

In addition to organising the annual event, the STUC works closely with anti-fascist organisations to mobilise against racism, in workplaces and wider society, by articulating consistently positive messages on immigration. Exploitation and not inward migration are the threat to Scottish workers. 

The St Andrew’s Day march says that diversity and a commitment to being outward-looking and opposed to discrimination is intrinsic to Scotland’s culture, history and its right to self-determination.

Whereas a quarter of a century ago the far-right was attempting to commandeer the saltire in its pursuit of racial hatred, a couple of months ago it was mobilised in George Square in violent confrontation with pro-independence campaigners. 

A different flag was chosen on that day, but the aims and methods were the same.

The far-right has lurched between various manifestations and centred itself on a range of different organisations — many of which still exist, but of which the Scottish Defence League (SDL) is currently the most active. 

Like its larger counterpart, the English Defence League, the SDL claims it is motivated by anti-Islamism, but in effect it provides an umbrella for all racists to converge under. 

The SDL has a number of British National Party activists at its core and close ties with “The Infidels,” a group which espouses a wider racist agenda. Its members have been present on National Front and BNP demonstrations in London.

There is little doubt true that the Scottish Defence League and organised racists more generally have struggled to obtain a foothold in Scotland, compared with their counterparts in some areas south of the border. 

This has been due in no small part to the diligence of anti-racist and other progressive organisations. 

Scottish political and civil society has proved adept at uniting quickly and effectively to counter the threat of organised racism. 

The STUC and a number of the speakers and organisations at today’s rally came together to form Scotland United Against Racism and Fascism in November 2009, organising a massive protest to counter the first major attempt by the SDL to march in Scotland.

Recognising that there are differences north and south of the border must never lead to complacency. 

There have been a number of high-profile incidents over the past year, including the capturing on film of a racist tirade against Humza Yousaf MSP — one of the speakers on our march today. 

For every reported crime, dozens more pass unnoticed by the authorities or wider public. 

The economic insecurity upon which the far-right feeds is no less present in Scotland than across the rest of Britain. And the right-wing media continues to whip up anti-immigration and anti-Muslim sentiment.

For this reason, the STUC has begun the process of expanding its work around St Andrew’s Day. 

This year our work began earlier this month with the showing by the GMB of the Ken Loach film Bread and Roses and included a programme of events organised by Hope Not Hate, more details of which can be found on the STUC website. 

Following the rally today, a five-a-side football tournament, including teams from United Glasgow, will highlight key messages about racism and homophobia in sport.

We hope and believe that in each and every year our programme of events will expand and our march and rally will grow in size until we finally achieve a future free from racism.

Dave Moxham is STUC deputy general secretary.

The STUC-organised St Andrew’s Day anti-racism march and rally will assemble at 10.30am at Glasgow Green on Saturday November 29. Speakers include Anas Sarwar MP & Humza Yousaf MSP. The rally will be held at noon and will include speakers: STUC president June Minnery, a speaker from TRUE Colours, Anti-racism in schools project, Colin Clark from the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, feminist writer and activist Selma James and human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar. For more information visit www.stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-external-events/st-andrews-day-2014.