Keir Starmer faced a setback as a prominent supporter was replaced by a leftist candidate who secured the leadership of one of Labour’s major union supporters. Andrea Egan emerged victorious in the election for Unison General Secretary with nearly 60% of the votes, defeating the incumbent Christina McAnea. McAnea had been a staunch ally of Starmer, maintaining a close relationship between the union and Labour.
This outcome presents a significant challenge for the Labour Party. Egan, who was expelled from the party in 2022, campaigned on a platform to reassess Unison’s ties with Labour. Her win could potentially alter the dynamics within Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.
Unison, the largest trade union in the UK with approximately 1.3 million members, predominantly from the NHS, care, and other public sector fields, holds a crucial affiliation with the Labour Party and serves as one of its primary financial supporters.
Egan’s campaign focused on conducting a thorough review of the union’s association with the Labour Party to ensure alignment with democratically-approved policies and maximize influence effectively. The election result signals a shift towards member empowerment within Unison, aiming to address issues like underfunding, low wages, and outsourcing affecting public sector workers.
In her statement following the election, Egan emphasized the need for change and empowerment of public sector workers, signaling a new era of member-driven leadership within Unison. She pledged to advocate for members’ interests and challenge any entity opposing their welfare.
Egan, a social worker from Bolton, committed to receiving a social worker’s salary rather than the General Secretary’s pay. Her prior expulsion from Labour stemmed from sharing content from a banned Marxist group, and she has since shown support for Your Party, an initiative led by Jeremy Corbyn.
Starmer extended congratulations to Egan on assuming the role, expressing readiness to collaborate. He also commended McAnea for her contributions to the Labour and trade union movement, particularly in advancing workers’ rights and promoting fair pay agreements.
Hollie Ridley, General Secretary of the Labour Party, lauded McAnea’s dedication to worker advocacy and highlighted her role in securing legislative milestones like the Employment Rights Bill. Ridley acknowledged McAnea’s efforts in championing social care issues and affirmed ongoing solidarity within the Labour movement.
Ridley also welcomed Egan’s election as the new General Secretary of UNISON, expressing eagerness to work together towards realizing the transformative agenda envisioned by the Labour Government.
