Major trade unions and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have rejected Nigel Farage's call for unions to affiliate with Reform UK, accusing the party of "cosplaying" as workers' champions while opposing new employment rights. Farage, the leader of Reform UK, issued an invitation on Tuesday for unions to attend the party's conference and consider affiliation, suggesting one union might be close to doing so.
Currently, 11 trade unions are affiliated with the Labour Party, but a recent poll indicates growing support for Reform UK among union members. However, leaders of the TUC, GMB, and Unison swiftly rebuffed Farage's overture, labeling Reform as a party of "corporate interests" and criticizing its stance against new worker protections.
In an interview with The Times, Farage argued that union leaders are "spending their members' money on policies that their members do not support." He highlighted that Reform now runs councils employing tens of thousands of unionized workers, including bin collectors, social workers, care staff, and school support staff. "Unlike the snobbish Tories of old, we will never treat organised labour with contempt. If you represent working people in this country, my door is open. The doors of every Reform council leader from Sunderland to Sandwell are open," Farage said.
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, countered that Farage's past comments on workers' rights legislation and plans to repeal the Equality Act speak for themselves. "Let's be crystal clear: Reform are no friends of working people. If they were, they wouldn't be planning to rip up workers' rights like day one sick pay and protection from fire-and-rehire and zero-hours contracts," Nowak said. "Reform can cosplay as champions of workers all they like. But the reality is they're bankrolled by corporate interests and crypto billionaires who want the rules rigged even further in favour of the rich and powerful, not working people."
TUC sources pointed to recent comments from Reform's Andrea Jenkyns, who stated last year, "I'll be honest with you, I don't like trade unions," and criticized the employment rights bill. Unison's general secretary, Andrea Egan, added, "It's a con to think Nigel Farage and his rich cronies are interested in unions for anything but cold, hard cash. They don't believe in basic rights or fair pay and consistently voted against every measure to improve them."
Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB, called Reform "rebadged Tories" in a speech at the union's annual event on Sunday. "When I hear Reform saying they're on the side of metal bashers, I say no chance. The only things Reform want to bash are unions and our members' rights," Smith said. "Reform are targeting the right to organise in places like Amazon, to collectively bargain over their pay, sick pay for all. There's a cancel culture in Reform and it's union members' rights they're after."
In his Times interview, Farage outlined a two-part offer: "First, we will extend an open offer to trade unions to apply – in good faith – for affiliation to Reform UK. Second, we invite the unions to attend Reform UK's national conference in September, and engage in discussing the policies of a future Reform government. We want to ensure that what happens in Westminster finally reflects the interests of the working majority."
A recent poll by JL Partners found Labour and Reform tied at 28% each among union voters, with members of Unite and GMB more likely to support Reform. The rejection by union leaders underscores the ongoing political battle for the allegiance of working-class voters in the UK.
