Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) today told a fringe meeting of the Trades Union Congress that he believed the government has launched a ‘class war’ against ordinary working people – the phrase is usually used by establishment figures to undermine the actions of left wing activists, not the other way round.
Wrack addressed delegates as the government’s Trades Union Bill has its second reading in parliament. Its third reading is expected in November.
Matt Wrack told TUC delegates: “The Trades Union Bill is the biggest attack on trade union rights in over 30 years. It amounts to nothing less than class war against ordinary working people. Trades Unions are the first line of defence against attacks on workers’ rights, the rights of ordinary working people to campaign and fight for decent pay and conditions. We as trades unionists need to take these threats to our rights very seriously indeed.”
Wrack called upon union leaders to mobilise their members to take to the streets in protest against the introduction of the bill, calling for a Jeremy Corbyn style campaign to be mounted by trade union members. He continued “We need the TUC and union leaders to get out of their headquarters and get onto the streets into communities. We need to start involving ordinary people from our communities to stand up to this bill and all of the threats it poses. If Jeremy Corbyn can prompt thousands of people across the country to gather in protest at what he calls ‘grotesque inequality’, then the trade union movement can do it too. Keeping our heads down for the next five years is not an option. The fightback starts now.”
