Clive Lewis accused of being ‘anti-working class’ after attack on nuclear unions
3 min read
A powerful trade union has labelled Clive Lewis "anti-working class" after he launched an extraordinary attack on their defence of the nuclear industry.
The GMB said the former Shadow Cabinet member's remarks were "offensive to our members".
Speaking at a fringe event at the Labour party conference,Mr Lewis said the unions, and the GMB in particular, had become "the voice of big business".
He also accused them of fighting “to the bitter end” for the arms industry, but failing to speak up for the renewable energy sector because it didn’t generate union members.
The Labour MP for Norwich South said: “One of the problems with where trade unions are at the moment is that they have been so weakened that I think they have become, and have been used by big business as, a voice for big business.
“Because big business understands that if you have a unionised workforce they also become spokespeople for you. They create a situation where you have a wide and broad spectrum politically of people supporting your particular position.
“On nuclear, yes, GMB and other unions are staunchly supporting it because the jobs there generate union members. Contrast that to the highly self-employed solar sector: the unions have no trade unions there. They are not speaking up at all for them…
“That is one of the reasons that a big song and dance and hoo-ha about solar wasn’t made by the unions and yet they are getting staunchly behind Hinkley [the first new nuclear power plant to be built in the UK for 20 years].
“It is also the reason why trade unions fight to the bitter end on the arms industry – because they have high-quality jobs and strong membership there and this is their lifeblood. Without the members they don’t exist.”
But In a furious letter, GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith said he was “staggered” at such remarks coming from "someone who is meant to understand the value of working people".
"I believe that where such erroneous and anti-trade union and anti-working class statements are made they cannot be left unchallenged as they can act as a corrosive influence on wider attitudes to the collective organisation of workers," he said.
“As a Labour MP and someone who is meant to understand the value of working people voluntarily coming together to advance their interests, I am staggered that you chose to attack our members and the work we do before availing yourself of the relevant facts."
He added: "Some basic research on our work would have shown you that GMB has publicly stated our support for renewables as part of a wider balanced energy policy. However, we have been rightly critical of an industry that sucks up billions in taxpayer funded subsidies but has, in return, produced little in the way of jobs for the people in Britain.
"This is an industry that needs to get its act together and start delivering for the working people of our country. Instead of a ‘jobs bonanza’ from renewables, working class communities and our people in Scotland have been stuck with paying billions of pounds in public subsidies through a flat tax on their energy bills, with the poorest being hit hardest."
Mr Smith went on: "In your position as a Labour Member of Parliament I would have hoped that at the very least you would have got your facts straight before making your comments. You should know that we consider your attacks on our union to be offensive to our members and our union here in Scotland."
Mr Lewis previously was Shadow Business Secretary until March, but quit his post in order to vote against Jeremy Corbyn's order his Labour MPs to vote in favour of the triggering of Article 50.
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