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Labour’s staff poised for strikes to save jobs

New headache for Starmer as workers fight back against redundancies

LABOUR staff who are members of the Unite and GMB unions overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action today if the party’s plans for compulsory redundancies go ahead.

Indicative ballots among both unions’ members closed on Tuesday and recorded turnouts of around 80 per cent, with 75 per cent voting in favour of industrial action if faced with compulsory redundancies.

The ballots were called following the announcement of a reorganisation, including job cuts for at least 90 workers, by Labour general secretary David Evans in July.

Mr Evans confirmed that “a new structure” for Labour was being proposed in an all-staff meeting, where employees were told that “the key driver of this process is to achieve substantial cost reduction and achieve substantial cost reduction now.”

But he added that the party was not following a process of redundancy.

Last month, Mr Evans said that the party’s finances suffered due to the loss of members and because funds were used to deal with anti-semitism cases.

At least 150,000 members are said to have quit the party since Sir Keir Starmer became Labour leader.

The party paid over £600,000 last year to seven former employees and a veteran BBC journalist in damages and still faces several other legal claims after throwing its former leader Jeremy Corbyn under the bus.

Applications for Labour’s staff seeking voluntary redundancy also closed today.

The unions said they informed Labour of the ballot results and another vote would have to be held before any industrial action is taken.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: “Labour will be meeting with Unite and the GMB this Friday and both unions are hopeful that a way forward can be found that avoids any compulsory redundancies or resultant industrial action.” 

GMB organiser Vaughan West said: “Labour Party workers have shown the strength of their anger in this ballot result.

“We hope party bosses will now sit up, take notice and talk with unions so we can avoid compulsory redundancies.”

Last month before ballots were sent out, the unions sent Labour a joint letter expressing anger at the lack of communication and consultation.

They also pressed for a better voluntary severance package.

The party responded by increasing its offer to staff from three weeks’ pay for every year served to four weeks and offering a minimum pay package of £5,000.

Labour MP Jon Trickett told the Morning Star: “Labour Party employees are loyal, diligent and work long hours. They are motivated by what is best for our movement.

“It is highly unusual for management to lose their support so much that they feel they need to consider industrial action.

“I express my solidarity with them and now expect that the present proposals are withdrawn in order to have proper negotiations about their future.”

Labour was approached for comment.

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