BRITAIN’S ethnicity pay gap must end as Reform “hoovers up” support from workers who have lost faith with the two main political parties, Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said today. 

Speaking at the union’s annual black workers’ conference in Brighton, Ms McAnea said that there was “much to do” to win back support following Reform’s election success last week.

Some Unison members will have voted for the party, she said, adding: “We need to convince them Reform isn’t the party for working people, public service workers or the essential services they help run.

“And that is going to be tough given some of the things the government has done: cutting winter fuel payments, attacking benefits for disabled people, [and] not giving [state pension] justice to the Waspi women. 

“But whatever party is in power, there are unique challenges facing the union’s black members in their workplaces.

“One of these is the ethnicity pay gap. It must end. It is a blatant reflection of racial inequality and has a huge impact on individuals and their families.

“The law must be changed so employers have to report their pay gaps and these disparities can be tackled.”