Unite, who has previously enjoyed a close relationship with the Labour Party, has escalated its war of words with the government.
The union has been critical of Labour since they came into office in July 2024 (Image: Getty)
A senior union leader has accused the Sir Keir Starmer’s Government of attacking some of the poorest in society, warning that workers could “turn their backs” on Labour. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said unions had welcomed the new Labour Government to end years of Tory “chaos”, the “madness” of austerity and to end workers being at the back of the queue.
She told the TUC Congress in Brighton that the country was “crying out” for change but sid: “I do not understand how a Labour Government have been attacking some of poorest in our society – pensioners, the disabled – whilst leaving the super-rich totally untouched. What the hell are Labour doing? Yes, Britain is broken. Yes, the Tories are to blame. But Labour is in government now and they cannot keep making everyday people pay
Starmer continues to feel pressure from the left of his party (Image: Getty)
“Different choices must be made or workers and the working class will turn their backs on Labour.”
The Unite leader highlighted the long running strike by bin workers in Birmingham, accusing the Labour council, backed by the Labour Government, of using Margaret Thatcher’s anti-trade union laws to try and “break” picket lines.
The group revoked the membership of the then Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Angela Rayner in July, accusing the former trade unionist of “effectively firing and rehiring the workers, who are striking over pay cuts of up to £8,000.”
The group also said that it had voted “overwhelmingly” to “re-examine” its relationship with Labour.
Speaking today, Ms Graham added: “Let’s remind ourselves what this dispute is about – workers that woke up one morning and told to accept an £8,000 pound a year pay cut – a quarter of their pay.
The row intensified earlier this year as Birmingham bin workers took strike action (Image: Getty)
“This will mean homes gone. Mortgages and rent that cannot be paid.
“Workers out there fighting for their families and being told by Labour that the council could not afford the cost to end the dispute.
“This is the beginning of workers in local government paying for incompetent decisions, years of austerity and council debt.
“Make no mistake, if they get away with this in Birmingham it will spread.”
Ms Graham said any fines Unite faced over the strike would be paid out of the union’s affiliation to the Labour party.
The government is also facing strong pressure from the RMT, with Tube workers taking industrial action this week across the London Underground network, causing travel misery for millions of people.
