Union leaders warn Starmer to 'don't take our vote for granted' in workers' rights row

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Union leaders have warned Sir Keir Starmer that Labor cannot take its members' votes at the next general election for granted if promises of a new package on rights are being betrayed.
The warning is a worrying message for Sir Keir despite Labor's success in last week's local elections, when the party could struggle to form a majority.
Divisions have already emerged, with some Labor voters staying home or supporting alternative left-wing candidates over their leader's support for Israel in the Gaza war.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent, TUC president Matt Wrack, who is also general secretary of the Firefighters' Union (FBU), revealed that he and other union leaders had arranged for a crucial meeting with the Labor leader.
This follows reports that Labor had “watered down” a policy document on workers' rights, strongly denied by the party.
Matt Wrack, the new president of the TUC, prepares to hold a crucial meeting with Keir Starmer (PA)
Mr. Wrack told The Independent that he had been involved in consultation to draft the document.
He said that at the meeting with Sir Keir to be held on May 14 , unions will “compare and contrast” the list of points they previously agreed on with those that did in the document. While he added that he had no reason to believe that Labor had watered down the policy document, he had not yet seen it himself.
Mr. Wrack insisted that repealing the last two pieces of legislation introduced by the Conservatives – including the Minimum Service Act limiting the ability to strike, as well as the minimum requirement for a turnout of 50 percent – are “the fundamental requirements” of what he and other union leaders want.
He also noted that Labor had committed in conversations to agreeing a system of more modern voting which would allow digital voting on industrial action – currently it is limited to postal votes.
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Politics May 7, 2024 0 14 Add to Reading List

Union leaders warn Starmer to 'don't take our vote for granted' in workers' rights row

Sign up to the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxReceive our free View from Westminster emailPlease enter an email address valid emailPlease enter a valid email addressI would like to receive an email about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy{{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later.{{ /verifyErrors }>

Union leaders have warned Sir Keir Starmer that Labor cannot take its members' votes at the next general election for granted if promises of a new package on rights are being betrayed.

The warning is a worrying message for Sir Keir despite Labor's success in last week's local elections, when the party could struggle to form a majority.

Divisions have already emerged, with some Labor voters staying home or supporting alternative left-wing candidates over their leader's support for Israel in the Gaza war.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, TUC president Matt Wrack, who is also general secretary of the Firefighters' Union (FBU), revealed that he and other union leaders had arranged for a crucial meeting with the Labor leader.

This follows reports that Labor had “watered down” a policy document on workers' rights, strongly denied by the party.

Matt Wrack, the new president of the TUC, prepares to hold a crucial meeting with Keir Starmer (PA)

Mr. Wrack told The Independent that he had been involved in consultation to draft the document.

He said that at the meeting with Sir Keir to be held on May 14 , unions will “compare and contrast” the list of points they previously agreed on with those that did in the document. While he added that he had no reason to believe that Labor had watered down the policy document, he had not yet seen it himself.

Mr. Wrack insisted that repealing the last two pieces of legislation introduced by the Conservatives – including the Minimum Service Act limiting the ability to strike, as well as the minimum requirement for a turnout of 50 percent – are “the fundamental requirements” of what he and other union leaders want.

He also noted that Labor had committed in conversations to agreeing a system of more modern voting which would allow digital voting on industrial action – currently it is limited to postal votes.

Juniors...