TUC general secretary Paul Nowak called on the Labour government to stop treating outsourced rail cleaners and caterers as second-class citizens at work during a keynote speech at RMT’s AGM today.

Speaking in Liverpool, just after Sir Keir Starmer announced a timetable to resign as Prime Minster, Mr Nowak urged Mr Starmer’s replacement to end the “two-tier workforce.”

He praised the adoption of the Employment Rights Act but said Labour’s “disastrous” May local election results showed it needed to go further.

“We need to keep fighting until we get the full-fat, full-strength Employment Rights Act that we deserve, and that the government delivers on its broader Make Work Pay commitments, including the biggest wave ever of public-sector employment,” he said.

“The government outlined plans to bring back in-house 2,000 civil servants, security staff, cleaners, and others.

“And that’s an important step forward, but we need to see that approach taken across health, education, local government, and yes, rail as well.

“So let’s be clear, it is time to stop rewarding failure. It is time to stop giving public-sector contracts to corporate crooks.

“And it’s time to stop treating cleaners and caterers and security guards and maintenance workers as second-class citizens.”

Although the TUC is not affiliated to Labour, Mr Nowak gave a stark message, saying: “My message to the Prime Minister now, and to whoever is in Downing Street in a couple of months’ time, or a couple of years’ time, or in five years’ time, is simply this.

“It is time to show working-class people in this country whose side you’re on.

“It’s time to deliver the manifesto commitments Labour was elected on, and it’s time to be bold, and it’s time to be ambitious.

“So yes, deliver the rest of Make Work Pay in full, invest in our public services, build a world-class transport system.

“And one more thing: have the courage to ask those with the broadest shoulders to pay a fairer share.”

Mr Nowak concluded with a pointed attack on Reform and leader Nigel Farage, adding that the party will “never will stand up for working-class people in this country.”