UNITE’S overwhelming vote to maintain ties to the Labour Party undoubtedly reflects the view of most affiliated union memberships.
Thousands of activists and many officials are furious about Labour’s comprehensive retreat from the left policy agenda of its last two manifestos.
That anger is palpable at most labour movement gatherings, as it was at the Durham Miners’ Gala at the weekend, where mentions of Keir Starmer drew immediate boos from the crowd.
At the same time, as Unite leader Sharon Graham stressed in debate, cutting ties when Labour looks likely to form the next government threatens to reduce union influence over a policy prospectus that still contains elements important to trade unions, from sectoral collective bargaining to public ownership of the railways.
“We must make them take different choices,” Ms Graham urged while vowing there will be no blank cheques.
Unite has done heavy lifting on policy. Its Unite Investigates studies of “greedflation” make it clear that it is profiteering, not workers’ pay, which is driving inflation — something now acknowledged even by IMF chief Christine Lagarde.
Its Renationalising Energy — Costs and Savings study found the cost of taking control of the energy sector equivalent to just two years of its current profits — demolishing claims that such solutions are unaffordable.
Labour’s leadership ignores these reports. It declines to support inflation-proofed pay awards and rejects nationalising utilities, often repeating arguments unions have already exposed as bogus.
Key to forcing Labour into a different position will be applying pressure at community level that counters the right-wing line imposed on MPs and councils by the leader’s office.
Initiatives like Unite for a Workers’ Economy have a role to play here: so do trades councils and other bodies that can co-ordinate pressure on local campaigns around wages, housing and services.
No Labour candidate should be allowed to feel union support is automatic whatever their record on these questions. And those feeling the heat from our movement will be more inclined to stand up to that from their own leader.
