Unite has publicly criticized Sir Keir Starmer's government plan Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty boils down to a document that captures all of Labour's key policies.
Unite, which has given the Labor Party millions of pounds in recent years, said in a statement that it “cannot support” the results of the party's National Policy Forum, which drew up a long list of policies to be considered in an election manifesto.
In the meeting, however, Sir Keir won the battle with his domestic critics, thwarting attempts to get him to promise to waive the double-limit child support amount if he wins office next year.
The Labor leader drew backlash from within his party, including criticism from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn and trade unionists, after announcing earlier this month that restrictions would remain.
Ahead of this weekend's political conference in Nottingham, trade unionists and others were drafting amendments to try to force Sir Keir to promise he would lift the restrictions.
But the move was seen off. The National Policy Forum document makes no mention of repealing the policy, according to one pro-Sir Keir Labor authority.
Sex Recognition Laws
Labor also pledged to “modernize, simplify and reform” the gender recognition laws in the document, although the specifics of what that might mean remains unclear.
The union's statement after the conference said: “Unite is delivering an important paper on labor policy.”
It says it “refused to support an important Labor document for the government.”
Unite's statement continued: “Unite was unable to fully support the document as it clearly crossed the union's red lines. This included workers' rights in collective bargaining agreements – an area that needed fundamental changes, not just tweaks around the edges – as well as workers' access to trade unions and the relaxation of wording regarding zero-day contracts.
“The process in Nottingham was chaotic with an attempt to push changes to the policy document without first giving them to conference participants, including Unite.
“Like any negotiation, you just don't sign up for anything without all the details and an understanding of the impact it will have on our members and workers more broadly.
“As the general election approaches, Keir Starmer has to prove that Labor will work for the workers, and we need a clear policy on this matter.”
“Missed Opportunity”
Momentum, the grassroots Labor organization that supported Corbyn during his leadership, also hit hard and criticism of these proposals.
A Momentum spokesman said: “The Labor Party missed an opportunity this weekend to spell out real solutions for a shattered Tory Britain.”
“Unions and party members have amended urgent, popular measures such as a £15 minimum wage, stronger workers' rights and free school meals.”
But a Labor spokesperson said: “This is a serious, credible and ambitious political agenda that lays the foundation for victory an electoral manifesto and a committed Labor government that will make Britain a better place. There are no unfunded spending commitments in the document.”
GMB said Labor has policies that can “really make a difference for workers.”
A union spokesperson said: “GMB's participation in the Labor Party's national political forum this weekend has made significant progress for workers.
“Labor now has a political agenda that will make a real difference for workers and the industries they work in.”
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