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| TUC chief attacks coalition for waging 'war on working people' | TUC chief attacks coalition for waging 'war on working people' |
| (8 days later) | |
| The leader of the UK's trade union movement has launched a stinging attack on the coalition, warning that its "war on working people" was threatening to divide the country in the same way Margaret Thatcher did in the 1980s. | The leader of the UK's trade union movement has launched a stinging attack on the coalition, warning that its "war on working people" was threatening to divide the country in the same way Margaret Thatcher did in the 1980s. |
| Frances O'Grady, the head of the TUC, said politics was controlled by people with too much money and power, and insisted unions had a vital role to play to make sure ordinary families had a voice at the top table. | Frances O'Grady, the head of the TUC, said politics was controlled by people with too much money and power, and insisted unions had a vital role to play to make sure ordinary families had a voice at the top table. |
| In her first speech to the annual congress as TUC general secretary, O'Grady said on Monday that without union involvement there would never have been the NHS, the 1944 Education Act, equal pay for women or the minimum wage. | In her first speech to the annual congress as TUC general secretary, O'Grady said on Monday that without union involvement there would never have been the NHS, the 1944 Education Act, equal pay for women or the minimum wage. |
| "And remember who first exposed the scandal of tax avoidance? Who first raised the alarm on living standards? And who first blew the whistle on zero-hours? You can see why some people want to shut us up. That is why we must stand up for our rights – not just union rights, but civil rights." | "And remember who first exposed the scandal of tax avoidance? Who first raised the alarm on living standards? And who first blew the whistle on zero-hours? You can see why some people want to shut us up. That is why we must stand up for our rights – not just union rights, but civil rights." |
| The speech comes at a critical time for the political influence of unions following Labour's plan to review the way the party is funded. | The speech comes at a critical time for the political influence of unions following Labour's plan to review the way the party is funded. |
| On Tuesday Ed Miliband is set to address the conference, and in a reference to the ongoing row that has seen two of the three biggest unions come out against the plans, O'Grady insisted that union donations to Labour were the "cleanest cash in politics". | On Tuesday Ed Miliband is set to address the conference, and in a reference to the ongoing row that has seen two of the three biggest unions come out against the plans, O'Grady insisted that union donations to Labour were the "cleanest cash in politics". |
| "We are united in defending the basic democratic principle that ordinary people have the right to a political voice," she said. | "We are united in defending the basic democratic principle that ordinary people have the right to a political voice," she said. |
| "That union money – the few pence freely given every week, by nurses, shop workers and truck drivers – is the cleanest cash in politics today." | "That union money – the few pence freely given every week, by nurses, shop workers and truck drivers – is the cleanest cash in politics today." |
| O'Grady, whose speech received a standing ovation from union activists in the hall, saved her fiercest criticism for the coalition leaders and the Tories' strategist, Australian Lynton Crosby. | O'Grady, whose speech received a standing ovation from union activists in the hall, saved her fiercest criticism for the coalition leaders and the Tories' strategist, Australian Lynton Crosby. |
| "I know the Conservatives are fond of referring to PR man Lynton Crosby as their very own Wizard of Oz. But what does that make Cameron, Osborne and Clegg? When it comes to any vision for a new economy, they are the scarecrow, the tin man and the cowardly lion – no brain, no heart and no courage." | "I know the Conservatives are fond of referring to PR man Lynton Crosby as their very own Wizard of Oz. But what does that make Cameron, Osborne and Clegg? When it comes to any vision for a new economy, they are the scarecrow, the tin man and the cowardly lion – no brain, no heart and no courage." |
| She said the attacks on the union movement over the past few weeks were testimony to its enduring strength and the threat that its values of "care, compassion and fairness" posed to powerful vested interests. | She said the attacks on the union movement over the past few weeks were testimony to its enduring strength and the threat that its values of "care, compassion and fairness" posed to powerful vested interests. |
| O'Grady called for the implementation of a political action plan to stimulate growth, create decent jobs, new houses, and fair rights at work. | O'Grady called for the implementation of a political action plan to stimulate growth, create decent jobs, new houses, and fair rights at work. |
| She said it could be paid for by taxing the rich, whose wealth had increased dramatically in the past few years. | She said it could be paid for by taxing the rich, whose wealth had increased dramatically in the past few years. |
| "According to the rich list, since the crash, the 1,000 richest people in Britain increased their wealth by no less than £190bn. That's nearly double the entire budget for the NHS. So when they ask how we will pay for it, let's tell them: fair taxes – that's how." | "According to the rich list, since the crash, the 1,000 richest people in Britain increased their wealth by no less than £190bn. That's nearly double the entire budget for the NHS. So when they ask how we will pay for it, let's tell them: fair taxes – that's how." |
| And following weeks of debate about the link between unions and the Labour party, she said it was now time for the Tories to come clean about their membership and funding. | And following weeks of debate about the link between unions and the Labour party, she said it was now time for the Tories to come clean about their membership and funding. |
| "Half of the Conservative party's funding comes from the City. One-third of their new intake of MPs are drawn from the banking industry alone. And we know what happens when the super-rich get to run the tax system." | "Half of the Conservative party's funding comes from the City. One-third of their new intake of MPs are drawn from the banking industry alone. And we know what happens when the super-rich get to run the tax system." |
| O'Grady said the unions had 10 times the membership of all Britain's political parties combined and were required by law to publish their membership figures. | O'Grady said the unions had 10 times the membership of all Britain's political parties combined and were required by law to publish their membership figures. |
| "The Conservative party refuses point blank to say how many members it has … So before he starts lecturing unions about transparency, the prime minister should take a long hard look in the mirror. We already publish our numbers. I challenge David Cameron to publish his." | "The Conservative party refuses point blank to say how many members it has … So before he starts lecturing unions about transparency, the prime minister should take a long hard look in the mirror. We already publish our numbers. I challenge David Cameron to publish his." |
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