LABOUR has been warned not to take trade unionists’ votes for granted amid reports Sir Keir Starmer will water down his commitments on workers’ rights.
TUC president Matt Wrack predicted “significant anger” and a “hostile reception” at the union federation’s annual conference in September if the party bows to pressure from business lobbying and rolls back measures in its New Deal for Workers.
“It is a policy that is necessary in terms of maintaining unity in the Labour Party,” he told the Guardian.
“The leadership shouldn’t just rely on the idea that Labour is the only game in town.
“People need to have something to vote for other than Keir Starmer who is not Rishi Sunak.”
Union leaders have arranged a meeting with Sir Keir after it emerged last week that Labour’s plans do not involve a complete ban on zero-hours contracts, and that extension of sectoral collective bargaining will initially be confined to social care.
Mr Wrack, who is also general secretary of the 34,000-strong Fire Brigades Union, said trade unions “will compare and contrast” the list of items they previously agreed with those that made it into the document with the Labour leader on May 14.
He said that despite Labour trouncing the Tories in last week’s elections, there was little enthusiasm for the party because “people are not sure what the policy agenda is other than continuity.”
“Rolling back on this would be pretty disastrous for relations with the unions,” he added.
“It is the one thing unions have to sell to Labour voters. You look around and I am not sure what other reason there is to vote Labour.”
A Labour spokesperson said: “The new deal will be a core part of Labour’s offer and we will be campaigning on this ahead of the general election.
“Our commitments to bring forward legislation to Parliament within 100 days to deliver the new deal and to consult widely on implementation have not changed.”
It comes after Unite general secretary Sharon Graham warned the union could divert election funding earmarked for the party if Sir Keir dilutes the deal.
She warned any rowing back or delay represented a “red line” for her and her members, suggesting that she would consider using potential election funds to instead back a grassroots campaign to lobby Labour MPs to stand by their pledges to workers.
