The UK’s trades unions have began commenting on Sunaks decision to call a general election and not surprisingly the promise of the New Deal For Workers By Labour is central to their comments.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “The Tories have spent 14 years attacking the rights of working-class people and smashing public services to pieces.
“They are a government of millionaires, acting in the interests of an out-of-control billionaire class. Tory rule has brought us nothing but poverty, chaos and a divisive agenda of scapegoating.
“Now is the time to kick these vandals from office and bury them for a generation.
“The Tories are currently waging war on workers with the Minimum Service Levels Act, which effectively bans workers, including firefighters, from striking to protect their jobs and wages.
“The FBU will fight to win a Labour government which reverses these authoritarian attacks on unions, and ensure that pay and public services are properly funded.
“We look forward to Keir Starmer delivering the New Deal for Working People in full within 100 days of entering 10 Downing Street. Our role as trade unionists will be to ensure this pledge is delivered.”
Gwain Little General Secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unions said: This election present an opportunity to put Sunak’s Tory Government where it belongs in the dustbin of history. But the key question is what will replace it- a mediocre alternative or a real right to strike and a new international policy? They will be determined as always by the fight put up by working people and their unions.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “There is no doubt that this election will be a pivotal moment. Workers and communities are crying out for real change; Labour can be that change and will have the power to deliver what is needed in government. They can now show they are on the side of workers; they need to grasp this nettle. Promises made must be delivered.”
Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said that: “It’s about time we saw the back of a Conservative government that has, for 14 years, relentlessly attacked workers’ rights. We hope and expect a new government would treat our members with the respect they deserve, pay them a fair wage and invest in a civil service that meets the needs of the country.”
Retail workers union Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Usdaw welcomes that the general election has been called for Thursday 4 July. It finally gives our members the chance to vote for the change they so desperately need after 14 years of austerity, chaos and the Tories’ cost of living crisis. We are urging our members to vote Labour for a new deal for workers, action on retail crime and support for struggling high streets.
The past fourteen years have shown what a Tory Britain looks like: austerity that cruelly targets the most vulnerable people in our communities; relentless attacks on workers’ and trade union rights that creates more insecure work; chaotic economics that caused a deeply damaging cost of living crisis, and the effective decriminalisation of shoplifting that blights our struggling retail industry.
We’ve all had enough. That’s why Usdaw is campaigning for a Labour Government. A vote for the Conservatives is not a vote for working people, their families or their communities. It is only the Labour Party that will bring the changes that working people need.”
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea commented: “Election day can’t come soon enough. Working people and their families are crying out for a new government in Westminster. One that values public services, can revitalise the economy and has a vision for the future.
Anyone who has struggled to make ends meet, tried to get an NHS appointment, seen council services savaged or wrangled with a social care sector that’s not fit for purpose will welcome this day. It’s been clear for months that this government is out of ideas, out of touch and should be out of office.”
“This election matters, not just for education in England, but across the UK because in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales high quality education is dependent on a fair funding settlement from Westminster,” said NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach. He said the message from members was loud and clear: “Teachers are angry, frustrated and believe the change we need can only come from a new government that is committed to delivering a New Deal for Teachers”
Education union head Daniel Kebede, of the National Education Union (NEU), issued a statement saying: “Our schools are chronically underfunded, primary class sizes are the highest in Europe, and secondary class sizes are the highest since records began more than 40 years ago. Teachers are underpaid and overworked, resulting in the worst recruitment and retention crisis in a generation. That will not be reversed unless there is significant change to pay and terms and conditions of the education workforce.
SEND provision and mental health support for our young people is practically non- existent. We have a curriculum and assessment system that does not engage many pupils or give each of them the chance to thrive.
Many of our school buildings are in a chronic state of disrepair, literally crumbling away with the ongoing effects of RAAC and asbestos. This is a grim picture for one of the richest countries in the world. It’s far from the ‘world class’ education system so regularly promised by our Government. And it just cannot go on.
The National Education Union will be using our voice to highlight what our 500,000 members want and parents and, most importantly, children and young people need. Our message is: we need a Government to invest in education and to invest in our young people. If you value education, vote for education. Let’s give our children the education they deserve.”
“There can be no “back-pedalling” on the New Deal for Workers”, Prison Officers union General Secretary Steve Gillan warned Labour at the union’s annual conference in Eastbourne.
Gillan also told shadow prison minister Ruth Cadbury that the prison officers’ union does not “forget easily,” referencing previous Labour prime minister Tony Blair’s breaking of a pledge to repeal anti-strike legislation.