New Unison leader threatens mass strikes against Starmer
The newly elected general secretary of Unison, Andrea Egan, has signalled a confrontational stance towards Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, threatening to initiate significant public sector strikes in 2026, reports BritPanorama.
Egan’s election marks a critical shift for Britain’s largest trade union, representing 1.3 million members. She has openly pledged to end Unison’s support for what she describes as the “destructive right wing of the Labour party.” In her inaugural remarks, she outlined a vision that prioritizes union members’ interests over political allegiances.
Stating her intent to galvanize action, she declared, “We will call time on our union’s inexcusable habit of propping up politicians who act against our interests, undermine our fundamental values and make our lives worse.” Egan hinted at coordinating efforts with other unions, potentially orchestrating strikes that might paralyze the country.
“We are the biggest and best-resourced union in the country,” she emphasized, suggesting the potential scale and impact of any planned industrial action.
Previously expelled from the Labour Party in 2022 for her association with a “Marxist group,” Egan’s election is seen as a stark challenge to Starmer’s leadership, particularly as the Labour leader grapples with internal dissent and public sector discontent. Egan is poised to represent workers in education, NHS, and local government effective January.
Her statements come as Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned public sector workers to prepare for smaller pay increases, amid tightening financial constraints facing the UK Government. Unison currently represents approximately half a million workers within the NHS—a sector already under considerable strain due to ongoing disputes.
If coordinated strikes occur, particularly between NHS workers and junior doctors currently engaged in rolling action, it could significantly jeopardize the government’s commitment to reducing NHS waiting lists, further complicating Starmer’s political landscape.
As speculation mounts regarding potential leadership challenges within the Labour Party, voices advocating for a leadership change before the impending local elections in May are becoming increasingly vocal. Some MPs express concern that waiting for the elections could be too late for the party to address significant losses, particularly in Wales, a situation deemed “totemic” for Labour’s future.
The political atmosphere around Starmer is increasingly tenuous, with insiders suggesting that the current circumstances resemble a precarious House of Cards—risks are high, and the stakes are rising as demonstrations of union solidarity and leadership dynamics unfold.
This developing situation underscores the volatile intersection of labour relations and political governance in the UK, amidst a backdrop of increasing challenges for a government seeking to maintain stability and public trust in the face of rising dissent.
Unison’s repositioning under Egan’s leadership could have profound implications for the Labour Party’s internal cohesion and its electoral strategy, presenting both a significant challenge and an opportunity for political recalibration.
