UK
‘Prospect of PM Farage keeps me awake at night’, says leading union chief
A leading trade union boss has said the prospect of Reform leader Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister keeps him awake at night – and urged Labour to change course to prevent him from entering Downing Street.
In an exclusive interview with LabourList ahead of the Fire Brigades Union’s conference next week, general secretary Steve Wright said that the disappointing local election results for Labour, which saw the party haemorrhage council seats to Reform UK, should be a “wake up call”.
He said the government needed to tax the rich and pump more money into public services. Wright said: “I’m fearful, alongside the other general secretaries, about the direction of travel and where this ends in four years’ time. If Labour don’t change course, we will end up with Nigel Farage as Prime Minister, and that keeps me awake at night.
“I think this is a reaction from the working class and ordinary people in society, speaking out and using their votes accordingly. Labour need to listen to trade unions, who are representatives of workers in our workplaces, in our communities.
“I think they need to half everything they are doping in regards to welfare cuts and the two-child benefit cap – all that needs to stop.”
Wright also said implementing a wealth tax would provide a chance to give public services sufficient funding.
“I’ve been quite vocal on this, and I’ve called out the Labour government directly in the media and in face to face meetings around a wealth tax. I think that there is an opportunity for the Labour government to actually tax the richest in society and put the money back into public services.”
‘It’s a really worrying time’
The FBU were among those campaigning during the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, distributing flyers urging people not to back Reform. Wright said that Farage’s messaging is simple and cuts through to voters, but is based on “nothing but sand”.
“When you actually get to have conversations with people, you only have to explain that Reform MPs, including Nigel Farage, have voted against employment rights for workers – but they’re not hearing this. I think what they’re comparing that to is what Labour are doing. They look at the welfare cuts, they look at winter fuel payments, so when Farage comes out with his easy lines about how he’s going to protect the working class, I think they’re buying into it, unfortunately.”
Wright that unions like the FBU have a job to do in having conversations with their members and communities about Reform.
“I have no doubt the impact this will have on us as trade unionists and also as firefighters. They’ve taken over control of ten county councils. Many of our fire and rescue services are run by county councils and their position on climate change is drastically in opposition to where we are on it.
“It’s just a really worrying time, actually, and I hope in my position as a Labour-affiliated trade union general secretary that my voice will be heard alongside others when we say Labour need to start delivering and listening to us when we’re representing the ordinary people in this country.”
READ MORE: Local elections: Reform took four times more Labour seats than other parties
‘PM is rolling out red carpet for Donald Trump – he should invite Birmingham union reps to Downing Street’
Wright also expressed solidarity with Unite workers in Birmingham, as the ongoing bin strike continues into its tenth week. He joined workers on the picket in the city and said those taking industrial action are “fighting for their own livelihoods”.
In a message to those striking, Wright said the FBU has “got your back” amid claims by the union that firefighters were asked to cross the picket line to collect bins in Birmingham.
“There was a massive show of strength. One third of their pay is about to be stripped from them – £8,000. These people are fighting for their own livelihoods, fighting for their family’s future, so they have got my full backing.
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“These people don’t want to be taking strike action. They are losing money day after day, but how could they willingly accept an £8,000 pay cut. It is outrageous and disgraceful the way they have been treated.”
Wright also said that Labour needs to intervene in the dispute and suggested that Keir Starmer invite the union representatives involved to Downing Street.
“We’re rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump – he needs to actually get them in the room, listen to the issues that they’ve got and I think it’s easily resolved.”
‘FBU pay offer far from perfect, but step in right direction’
FBU members are currently voting on their own pay offer, with the issue of pay being a crucial part of Wright’s campaign to be elected as general secretary at the start of this year. Through collective bargaining, the union managed to negotiate a 3.2% offer, compared to the 2.8% recommended for other public sector workers by government departments. While he said the FBU is in a better position than other unions, Wright said he would continue to campaign hard for a better deal for firefighters for the long term.
“We fought for that, we protected that and that ability for us to negotiate across the table directly with our employer is something we will continue to fight for.
“Our offer is far from perfect. We faced 15 years of austerity. Our members had pay cuts or pay restraints imposed under David Cameron, so we know firefighters’ wages have dropped.
“We feel this is a step in the right direction or an opportunity at least to have discussions within this offer around future investment, but we know it’s not good enough for the long term. We want to see more.”
Interview: USDAW’s new first female leader on wealth taxes, workplace AI and holding Labour’s feet to the fire
Usdaw’s general secretary-elect Joanne Thomas has called on the government to back a wealth tax and pledged to hold Labour’s feet to the fire in an exclusive interview with LabourList.
Speaking soon after the retail workers’ union’s annual delegate meeting in Blackpool, Joanne Thomas also praised the outgoing general secretary Paddy Lillis ahead of his retirement in July and said she feels “incredibly proud” of the union for choosing her to become the first woman to hold the position from this summer.
Thomas said: “Our priority is to represent our members, and we know in Usdaw that will be definitely more beneficial under a Labour government, but of course we are going to have to hold their feet to the fire on occasion.
“I think that is exactly what Labour should and would expect as well, because you have to be honest.”
‘The wealthiest should contribute more’
For Thomas, much like the current general secretary, the prize in having Labour return to government has been the Employment Rights Bill.
“I think that absolutely delivers for workers without a shadow of a doubt – and as a trade unionist, it’s something that we’ve coveted for a long time and had lots of conversations and campaigning around.
“But, of course, as a trade unionist, we always will look to help and support the most vulnerable in society.”
Thomas also joined calls by other union leaders for a wealth tax, describing such a move as “obvious”.
“I think that the wealthiest people or companies should be contributing towards a more equal society. It just seems so obvious to me.”
The intervention is striking as it marks the second time in a month senior Usdaw figures have attacked the government from the left, despite widely being seen as one of the more moderate Labour affiliate unions, with its leaders rarely criticising the party leadership.
Earlier this month, the union’s annual delegate meeting voted to demand a winter fuel cuts U-turn and an end to fuel standing charges. Outgoing general secretary Paddy Lillis also backed the proposals, saying that while some “tough measures” were needed because of the economic “mess”, the winter fuel cuts “took the decision too far” and left too many people vulnerable.”
‘PM Farage would be devastating for country’
Local election losses for Labour have seen greater concern about the threat of Reform across the wider labour movement, and Thomas is no exception to this – describing them as a “party to be wary of”.
She said that having Nigel Farage as Prime Minister would be “devastating for the country” and said they are promising things that they won’t be able to deliver on.
“They’re writing out cheques they can’t cash. We’ve got to make sure in the trade union movement and the Labour Party that we dispel some of their myths and encourage people to look at their voting records and realise that what they’re trying to do is just be a populist party. I don’t believe that they’ll ever deliver for workers.”
‘Paddy’s been a fantastic advocate for working people’
Usdaw’s recent conference was the first since Labour took office – with Thomas describing the mood as “electric”, given it also marked Lillis’ final appearance as general secretary and first since she was selected as his successor.
“I keep using the word ‘monumental’ because I do think that’s what Paddy’s leadership has meant to Usdaw and the union movement in general.
“I’ve worked with Paddy for 25 years in June, so he’s had a great influence on me – and I think he’s always been extremely pragmatic, not frightened to make the right decisions when sometimes they’re not popular, whether that be with politicians or employers. He’s been a fantastic advocate for working people, which exactly what I want to carry on doing.”
Thomas also said she feels “privileged beyond words” to have been selected to become the union’s first female general secretary.
“It’s hard for me to put into words what it means because I think it’s such a significant moment for our union and the movement to have more female leavers coming into more senior roles. The fact that it’s myself, I feel extremely proud – not just of myself, but of Usdaw and the branches that have recognised the importance of this and voted to put their faith in me.”
‘I realised as a young mother politics does matter’
Thomas has been involved in Usdaw for many years, starting as a workplace rep for the Labour-affiliated union while working at the wholesaler Makro.
She said that becoming a mother at the age of 17 sparked her political journey, as she sought to negotiate better contracts and childcare.
“I was in a position where very quickly it mattered what my contract looked like, how much I was earning, what access I had for housing – which is actually a very political agenda.
“I realised at a very young age and as a young mother that actually politics does matter and, although at that point I wasn’t necessarily a political person, I became involved in Usdaw at a young age because I wanted to make the workplace better. You can’t do that unless you’ve got a political agenda that delivers for the workers – so the two came hand in hand for me, and then obviously that flows into what type of life you can have.”
So what will Thomas’ priorities be as general secretary when she takes office in July?
She said she is committed to continuing much of the work started by Lillis during his time in the role, but added: “I want to look much more closely at the impact AI is having on our membership. I want to have a look and make sure that we’ve got a really good, strong industrial agenda to make sure that workers and our members are part of this progression, and that’s really important to me.
“I also want to make sure that we absolutely utilise the part of the Employment Rights Bill that gives us access to unorganised workplaces. I think for too long we haven’t been organised enough in the private sector, and I really want to see an expansion programme where we’re representing more people, as well as focusing on the great agreements that we already have.
“I also want to get out into the regions and hear from our members, hear from our representatives, and make sure that everything we do is the things that matter to them – that will always be an absolute priority.”
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