One million-plus workers may strike in a coordinated action this winter to get fair pay, says a union leader.
Poor pay during a cost-of-living crisis means workers must join forces to demand fair wages, says Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham.
She is talking with other union bosses about joining forces to secure the best deal for workers who are “fighting to stand still”.
She said: “You’ve got ourselves, Unison, GMB – and already you’re talking over a million workers.
“The aim is not to strike, the aim is to get money in the hands of workers who are doing a fair day’s work and expect a fair day’s pay.
“You’ve got this crazy situation where you’ve got Liz Truss saying ‘let’s have a bigger pie’. There’s no point having a bigger pie if the same people divide it.
“We’re trying to get money into the hands of workers as this Government is trying to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. We need to give workers the best chance of getting more money in their pockets so they can feed their families and don’t have a situation like they’re in now. Part of that is unions working together.”
There has been widespread industrial action this summer, including rail strikes. The Royal College of Nursing is balloting members over a potential walkout over pay, following a decade of real-terms wage cuts.
Ms Graham said: “It’s sad the people have to go on strike are workers and the people affected tend to be workers. We don’t want those people to be affected.
“But if unions don’t put a stake in the ground, what else do you do when you’ve got companies making billions and their workers can’t feed their families? You’re left with no alternative.” She wants to bring other union leaders and representatives together to coordinate industrial negotiations by sector.
“If we’re to take action it’s better we do it together. The more collective you are, the stronger you are.”
The Unite boss spoke moments after Kwasi Kwarteng was ousted as Chancellor and the PM was clinging to power. Ms Graham said: “They’ve gone in and made a hash of it. It’s the policies that are the problem here.
“We should never forget this type of government has presided over things for a long time. It’s become very visible because [Truss] put her foot on the accelerator, but it’s been the direction of travel for many years. It’s a shambles, it’s a horror show. It would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.”
She said Labour must now make it “very, very clear which side it is on” and urged Keir Starmer to “be bold”.
She said: “It’s better for the country if Labour is in. But we need to build a movement, not just a moment – because moments pass.
“If you’re on the side of workers, let’s see it and feel it. There are big questions Labour can answer about what the economy should look like.
“I say, take the moment. Take it by the scruff of its neck.”
And she slammed Royal Mail bosses who have partly blamed strike action for losses that have led to its decision to make 10,000 workers redundant by August.
She said: “It’s a sad indictment of our society and feeds into a broken economy. This is a nationalised industry that was sold off. It’s been making record profits up until the latest accounts and has decided to let [thousands of] people have no job right in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, because it can.”
As a regular on the picket lines, the union boss sees struggles first-hand. Last week she spent time with bus drivers in Hull who are demanding a £1.86 pay rise to receive £13 an hour.
Sharon said: “The Hull Fair was on and the bus drivers who ferry people to the fair can’t afford to take their own children. It’s just wrong.”
She said workers paid £11.14 an hour going on strike and worried about feeding a family face far more pressure than she as a union leader.
Ms Graham added: “Striking workers are the real heroes. It’s them going through the real pain. I feel lucky to be there so Unite can put an arm around their shoulder.”
