International Brigade Memorial Trust
Delegates at the Scottish TUC conference in Dundee on 15-17 April voted unanimously to support a motion praising the work of the IBMT.
The motion also calls on the Scottish government to promote ‘the story of International Brigades in the curriculum of our schools, colleges and universities’.
This is the full text of the motion:
That this Congress supports the good work of the International Brigade Memorial Trust in keeping alive the memory and spirit of the 2,500 men and women from Britain and Ireland who volunteered to defend democracy and fight fascism in Spain during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39.
Congress applauds the International Brigade Memorial Trust for the events it organised in December 2023 to commemorate the International Brigaders on the 85th anniversary of their return to Scotland, England, Wales, and Ireland.
In recognition of the work of the International Brigade Memorial Trust, Congress asks the STUC General Council to have dialogue with the Scottish Government and the relevant educational Trade Union affiliates with a view to promoting the story of International Brigades in the curriculum of our schools, colleges and universities.
Congress notes that 2026 will be the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. We therefore ask the STUC General Council in liaison with its Black Workers’ Committee to recognise this in its plan for the 2026 St Andrews Day anti-racist/anti-fascist March and Rally.
The conference was chaired by Mike Arnott, the IBMT Scotland Secretary, in his capacity as a representative of Dundee Trades Union Council on the STUC’s governing general council.
Pictured above: The 'Pasionaria' memorial to the International Brigades in Glasgow.
