While this has benefited Far-Right figures who peddle sim ­plistic solutions to these complex problems, trade unions can capitalise by demonstrating why a strong trade union movement is the most effective solution, undermining the Far-Rights scapegoating approach. The New Economic Model, recently published by ICTU and The Nevin Economic Research Institute(NERI) proposes a framework as to how this can be achieved, outlining how shared prosperity and reduced deprivation can lead to more robust, resilient econ ­omies, as opposed to being a»trade-off«. The framework affords greater access to decent work, income security, and essential services, ensuring economic shocks don’t dispro ­portionately impact low- and middle-income households. Irish Trade Unions are consistently securing impactful wins for Irish workers and a consistent economic justice frame could help highlight how these results are and to the benefit of workers everywhere. In June 2024, SIPTU successfully helped lift statutory minimum hourly rates for 33,000 work ­ers in early learning and childcare 29 and secured sectoral ERO’s raising the minimum wage for private security work ­ers 30 and contract cleaners. 31 Across public services, ICTU’s Public Services Committee secured a three year pay deal (worth 9.25 percent across the period). 32 While these are all impressive and impactful achievements in their own right, The New Economic Model helps demonstrates how they are all a part of the same story. The Irish trade union movement’s organisational power shows significant potential, should the current approach to inclusive organizing and migrant led leadership continue and be expanded. Unions can ensure seats for migrants in their executives and secure funding for dedicated diversity officers, steps which are already being taken by some un ­ions as a result of ICTU’s Stronger Together campaign, which although still in its early days, is demonstrating a solid foundation of concrete capacity-building actions on which to build. Investment should also continue into po ­litical education and digital resilience, to arm members with the skills to debunk digital hate, and show that what is being shared online does not always reflect what’s actu ­ally happening in the world. At a branch level, unions can invest in training to help workers understand complex is ­sues, while keeping LGBTQ+ and migrant networks visible and active. This will consolidate members and build resil ­ience to Far-Right narratives and talking points, ensuring members are inoculated against Far-Right narratives. Such an approach will be complemented by unions demon ­strating their institutional power, invoking disciplinary clauses, equality legislation or social dialogue forums to remind members that racism breaches not only union rules and core values, but fundamental workplace laws. Such actions will help unions maintain credibility in the public eye, while demonstrating a willingness to take action and promote inclusivity to ensure migrants feel welcome throughout the movement. Finally, Unions cannot defeat the Far-Right alone, and should continue investing in broad, values-based alliances, standing up for fairness and equality, and defending the most vulnerable in society. NGOs, migrants’ groups and women’s organisations are obvious allies in the fight against the Far-Right, and can contribute to the societal power movements gain through numbers. It also offers new opportunities for organizing and demonstrating, par ­ticularly if unions are willing to get involved at a more granular, community-focused level. These alliances can help to make racism more socially costly, while demon ­strating that the trade union’s commitment to solidarity and equality is universal, and goes beyond workplace issues. References Cannon, B.,& Murphy, S.(2024). ›We’re not right-wing or racist but …‹: Far-right myth and distributive conflict in asylum seeker related protest in the Republic of Ireland, November 2022–July 2023. Irish Journal of Sociology, 32(1-2), 225­234. https://doi.org/10.1177/07916035241259252 The Journal, Profiled: Meet Ireland‘s new far-right councillors –(13 June 2024) https://www.thejournal.ie/far-right-candidates-ireland-local-councils-6403594­Jun2024 Irish Times, Immigration is the top issue getting voters’ attention ahead of elec ­tions –(27 May 2024) https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/05/27/immigra ­tion-and-housing-dominate-voters-attention-as-elections-near-snapshot-poll-says The Guardian, Disappointment for Sinn Féin as Irish local elections bolster coali ­tion(10 Jun 2024) – https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/10/ disappointment-for-sinn-fein-as-irish-local-elections-bolster-coalition The Irish Examiner, Ireland has the Weakest Local Government System in Europe – https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41400727.html EDMO, The National Alliance(21 Nov 2024) – https://edmo.eu/edmo-news/ the-national-alliance Irish Times, Power struggles, resignations and Conor McGregor’s toxicity: the fracturing of Ireland’s Far-Right.(18 Apr 2025) – https://www.irishtimes.com/pol ­itics/2025/04/18/power-struggles-resignations-and-conor-mcgregors-toxici ­ty-the-fracturing-of-irelands-far-right 8 Against Fascism, Facebook Post(8 Jul 2025) – https://www.facebook. com/FightTheFashAlways/posts/in-the-early-hours-of-this-morning-derek-blighe­issued-a-statement-re-his-erstwh/1276289707837876 9 D. , and Lathrop, C.(2024). SHIFTING LANDSCAPES& LANGUAGE Democratic volatility and the evolving political discourse in Ireland 10 Irish Times, Deportation Orders Triple amid Hardening of Asylum Policy (11 April 2025) https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2025/04/11/ deportation-orders-triple-amid-hardening-of-asylum-policy BBC – An unlikely protest alliance during Belfast violence –(5 August 2024) https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkyyjg3pxpo 12 The National Party, Facebook Post – https://www.facebook.com/ watch/?v=1099422155338458 13 Clann Éireann, X post – https://x.com/ClannEireannIE/status/1941593117993394378 14 National Party, Óige Náisiúnach Delegates Address Meeting of Italian Na ­tionalist Group Casaggì – https://nationalparty.ie/oige-naisiunach-delegates-ad ­dress-meeting-of-italian-nationalist-group-casaggi 15 The National Party, Óige Náisiúnach guests at ›Irish Night‹ in Ghent, Flanders – https://nationalparty.ie/19th-of-march-flanders-event-irish-night Greven, T.(2025) DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS THE GLOBAL RADICAL RIGHT Transatlantic networks. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung 17 (2025) . Mapping Far-Right Activity Online in Northern Ireland Project Re ­port: Case studies on the role of social media in anti-immigration protests and rac ­ist incidents 18 Irish Times, Former Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon is Mentoring Irish Extrem ­ists(24 July 2024) https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2024/07/24/former­ku-klux-klan-grand-dragon-is-mentoring-irish-far-right-extremists Trade Unions and Right-Wing Populism in Ireland 5