Unions hailed their new influence today as Labour pushes ahead with repeal of anti-strike laws and overhauling workers’ rights.
TUC chief Paul Nowak boasted about the prospect of ‘recasting’ the economy in his keynote speech to the annual conference in Brighton.
He also jibed that he ‘enjoyed’ top Tories losing their seats in ‘Portillo Moments’ at the election, saying ‘goodbye and good riddance’.
Delegates are due to debate a call by Unite to introduce a ‘wealth tax’ later, with the union claiming it could bring in £25billion.
The wrangling comes as ministers reaffirm their intention to scrap Tory laws restricting industrial action, after handing out a series of bumper public pay deals to settle disputes.
Businesses have also raised concerns about the impact of a new package of rights for staff, including to flexible working and sick leave from day one.
TUC chief Paul Nowak (pictured) will boast about the prospect of ‘recasting’ the economy in his keynote speech to the annual conference in Brighton
Mr Nowak said in his speech to the congress in Brighton: ‘Some Tory MPs had the good sense, or the lack of backbone, to do the chicken run before the votes were cast.
‘The likes of Kwasi Kwarteng and Michael Gove… scuttling away from the mess they left behind.
‘Others decided to face the voters, and, while I am not one to revel in other people’s misfortune, I have to say I enjoyed every single Portillo moment in the early hours of July 5.
‘It was a roll call of political failure. Goodbye and good riddance to every single one of them. Now, they may be gone, but their miserable legacy remains.
‘The legacy of public services ruined by negligence and austerity, the legacy of an economy shattered by a shambolic Brexit and unfunded tax cuts for the rich, and the legacy of a Britain divided by nasty culture wars, dodgy PPE contracts, and Downing Street parties.’
He said the British people had cast their verdict on ‘one of the most right-wing, incompetent, anti-union, morally bankrupt governments this country has ever seen.’
Mr Nowak also laid into Reform MP Nigel Farage, saying he is no friend of workers.
‘A public school-educated, private equity-loving, NHS-privatising, Putin apologist fraud.’
Mr Nowak added that unions are planning to work closely with the new Government to rebuild the country after 14 years of Tory ‘chaos’.
‘We know Keir Starmer and this Government have the interests of working people at heart in the way that the Conservatives never did, and never will,’ he said.
‘But no government can put right 14 years of Tory chaos overnight, and no government can take on the job of rebuilding this country on its own.
‘Politics isn’t a spectator sport. We need to roll up our sleeves and get involved.
‘So, let’s pledge today. We will work with the new government to rebuild our public services.
‘We’ll play our part in recasting Britain’s industrial future, and above all we will work with the Government to face down those on the right who wish to sow division and discord in our communities.’
He will add that the trade union message is going to be taken into more workplaces, working with good employers to secure decent jobs.
‘I want to put every anti-union, anti-worker boss on notice. If you think you can get away with paying poverty wages, forcing people into work when they’re sick and firing and rehiring your staff – think again.
‘We’re going to take on the bad bosses and we are going to win.’
Delegates are also due to debate a call by Unite to introduce a ‘wealth tax’, claiming it could bring in £25billion.File picture of Unite’s Sharon Graham protesting earlier this year
Shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said it was ‘amazing how these union bosses claim to be so knowledgeable about how to run a private sector workforce without ever having actually employed anyone they have paid out of their own pocket’.
He warned Labour’s planned workers’ rights package would ‘drown businesses in red tape, encourage unions to hold employers to ransom and slow growth’.
Mr Hollinrake added: ‘If they had spent more time consulting businesses, particularly the owners of small and medium-sized businesses who truly power our economy rather than just their union paymasters maybe they would think twice.
‘Labour must listen to the chorus of opposition from businesses, not just their union paymasters, and change course now.’
