General secretary has strong words for Labour

Christina McAnea addressed UNISON’s women’s conference in Edinburgh on Saturday, with a strong message for the Labour government, saying that the first months of it had seen a “bumpy start.”

“Although the mess it inherited was much worse than expected, some of the choices made do feel like own goals,” she noted.

The general secretary described the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance, and the announcement that Waspi women won’t be compensated for their pension losses “shocking and unnecessary.”

“But it’s not all doom and gloom,” she observed. “When the Employment Rights Bill becomes law, it will have a positive impact on workers everywhere, especially women.

“It will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, put a stop to unfettered firing and rehiring and introduce employment rights from day one, including better maternity leave and benefits, parental and carer’s leave.”

Noting that 2025 marks 50 years since a Labour government introduced the Equal Pay Act, Ms McAnea told delegates that, “while that made a huge difference, there’s still a pay gap between men and women.

“This is because society doesn’t value the work women do. People can earn more looking after animals in a zoo or plants in a garden than they do for looking after children in a nursery or parents in a care home.”

The union continues to push the government to close the gender pay gap – as well as the disability and ethnicity pay gaps.

Not in favour of ‘tight fiscal rules’

The general secretary had more strong words for Labour. “UNISON has never supported the tight fiscal rules Labour set for itself. ‘Tying its own hands’ by limiting its ability to spend freely never seemed like a good idea.

“Ordinary working people can’t afford to pay more tax, but there are plenty who can. Labour should have the courage to introduce a wealth tax –  tax that would increase investment in public services while reducing inequality.”

And there was a warning too. “After 14 years of growing inequality, people have had enough – they’re impatient for change. But the danger is, unless Labour can turn things round quickly, some voters will turn to Reform.

“A party led by right-wing anti-tax, anti-public service – privately educated, entitled men. Led by a man who sucks up to Trump and Musk – a man who wants to privatise the NHS.”

And she pointed out: “That’s why – despite the disappointments – we need to keep the pressure up on Labour to improve the lives of working people.

“I don’t want this Labour government to be a flash in the pan, a five-year blip. Working people need a Labour government with the courage to take bold decisions and re-elected for a second term.”

Ms McAnea also told the conference that UNISON is “stronger and louder than ever” after recruitment in 2024 produced growth.

That “means we’ve been able to take more successful strike action, and get better wins.”