MILLIONS of pounds in funding to Labour could be in jeopardy as Unite voted to “re-examine its relationship” with the party.
A warning signal emerged as the union decided to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner following her criticism of the striking waste collection workers in Birmingham.
This action has ignited a contentious debate within the party, showcasing the expanding divide related to industrial strikes, welfare policies, and the gradual scaling back on winter fuel subsidies.
Donations worth £646,000 were given to individual candidates at the last election and they also give Labour around £1.2 million in affiliation fees.
Rayner’s expense declarations reveal a donation from the union of £10,000 that was put towards Rayner’s election campaign.
Between 2010 and 2020, Unite gave Labour a staggering £42 million to help with their campaigning.
Delegates from the union’s conference in Brighton expressed that if the job termination process for the striking bin workers proceeds, then “Unite should re-evaluate our ties with Labour”.
Unite is currently the largest affiliated union to the Labour party.
Rayner provoked anger by calling on the refuse workers to take a pay deal and end the “misery and disruption” affecting residents in Birmingham.
Rubbish has piled up in the city with rotting food attracting vermin such as rats, causing huge public health risks as a result of the all-out strike that began in March.
It’s understood they also took against her attitude over the strikes, pushing for £5 billion of welfare payments and the slow retreat on winter fuel payments for the elderly.
Unite boss Sharon Graham said: “Unite is crystal clear it will call out bad employers regardless of the colour of their rosette.
“Angela Rayner has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts.
“The disgraceful actions of the government and a so-called Labour council, is essentially fire and rehire and makes a joke of the Employment Relations Act promises.
“People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on and coming up with the answer not workers.”
Party sources last night insisted that Ms Rayner had resigned her membership of the trade union some months ago.
A Labour source said: “Angela’s not interested in stilly stunts, she’s interested in changing workers’ lives.
“Unite rejected a deal in Birmingham and their demands would have undermined equal pay, discriminating against female workers. Angela won’t be pushed around, and she quit Unite some months ago.”
