by Joana Ramiro and Bethany Rielly at Congress House

THE labour movement’s first lady rallied against Brexit yesterday, arguing before female trade unionists that equal pay was introduced in Britain by European regulation.

Opening this year’s TUC women’s conference, general secretary Frances O’Grady warned of the “threats for workers, in particular women workers” that withdrawing from Europe might bring.

Delegates from across the country nodded as Ms O’Grady confessed she was “not starry-eyed about the EU,” but said the alternative could be worse.

“We need to think through the practical implications of an Out vote for working people,” she said.

“The TUC is angry about much of what’s happened over the past decade — privatisation, deregulation, extreme austerity imposed on countries like Greece.

“But in June we have to make a choice and the TUC’s position is clear — a Brexit poses real threats for workers, in particular women workers. 

“Not just for our jobs, but for our rights at work too.

“If we came out of the EU, would a Tory government that is already bashing us with its Trade Union Bill really protect and keep those rights at work?“If you want my honest opinion, it’s this — not a chance.”

Ms O’Grady also used her speech to reiterate that the only way to bridge the gender pay gap was to unionise.

“Trade union organisation and collective bargaining has always been the best way I know of smashing that gender pay gap and giving women the financial independence we have long campaigned for,” she said.

The conference debated a series of motions on organising, as well as the gender pay gap.

University College Union (UCU) delegate Sue Abbott said that while the Dagenham sewing machinists won their battle in 1968, much still needed to be done for equal pay today.

“In higher education … out of 154 establishments only eight have equal pay. That’s absolutely shocking,” she said.

A motion on intensifying the fight against the pay gap was passed unanimously.