Stop ‘super rich, tax scammers’ call

Unite delivered a blistering attack on the Tories plans for trade unions at the TUC today (September 7), kicking off the conference in fighting style.

In what was nothing less than a ‘fight back’ speech, Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner demanded fairness for trade union members.

But, he said, a fairer Britain for all could not be achieved without strong trade unions – which represent, “six-and-a half million decent men and women, the hard working, tax paying backbone of our society”.

Steve Turner mocked the Tory proposals for new 50 per cent thresholds for industrial action ballots and said that the discredited Carr review was “only a smokescreen” for the latest Conservative attack on unions.

Speaking in the debate on trade union and employment rights, Steve Turner said, “Thresholds that would remove Cameron and his millionaire Tory cabinet from office.”

He castigated the gross power imbalance that allows five men, including the land-rich Duke of Westminster and Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley, to accumulate more wealth than the poorest 20 per cent of UK citizens.

He added, “We can’t address wealth and income inequality without having strong trade unions, employment rights and effective collective bargaining.”

Britain did not need a society of “tax scammers who dodge their dues or the super-rich who have bought the Tory party.”

The motion was carried.