Responding to the joint article on the EU referendum in the Guardian from former TUC general secretary Brendan Barber and David Cameron, Fire Brigades Union (FBU) leader Matt Wrack said:
“This is appalling. The former general secretary of the TUC has lined up with a Tory prime minister to support Cameron's case for a 'Remain' vote. This is the same prime minister who is responsible for unprecedented cuts that have attacked workers’ pay, pensions, and working conditions.
“The article argues that leaving the EU would threaten jobs – they don’t mention the huge job cuts this government has been responsible for, including the 7,000 frontline firefighters axed since Cameron came to power.
“Cameron has launched the biggest attack on workers’ rights in a generation, including those made through the disgraceful Trade Union Bill. We are staggered that Sir Brendan Barber has lined up with him in this way. Nobody in the trade union movement can seriously believe that Cameron has the slightest interest in protecting workers’ rights.
“Workers have completely separate interests to those of Cameron and his backers in the banks and big corporations. Brendan Barber has let us all down.”
