Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, has accused trade unions of ‘bribing’ workers to go on strike ahead of a’summer of strike turmoil.’
Millions of Britons will be inconvenienced by the largest rail strike in decades next week.
Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members will strike on the 21st, 23rd, and 25th of June, bringing the train network to a halt.
It is anticipated that the rail strike is merely the beginning of a “summer of discontent” of industrial action by unions across the UK, with more rail walkouts planned.
Strikes have also been threatened in municipal governments, transit systems, and schools.
Mr Kwarteng has now accused union officials of “quietly accumulating a war chest” in anticipation of summer strikes.
It has been reported that Unite has been providing strike compensation of £70 per day to employees.
Meanwhile, Unison boosted striking pay from £25 to £50 per day on the first day of action.
According to the union, this was done to “place itself and our members in the best possible position to win disputes.”
Unison and Unite each have strike fund reserves of roughly £35 million.
Mr Kwarteng told the Sunday Telegraph that the numbers showed’militant trade unions’ accumulating cash in anticipation of possible strike turmoil this summer.
‘It’s evident they’ve been planning this for a while.’ According to the data, their plan is meant to do maximum damage to millions of people for as long as possible,’ claimed the Business Secretary.
‘We are looking at every available option to secure the continuation of public services.’
‘It’s clear that trade union leaders have been covertly collecting a war chest to effectively bribe employees into unleashing a summer of strike turmoil,’ he continued.
However, unions reacted angrily to politicians’ ‘fantasy’ statements.
‘We want to enhance the union’s strength to ensure that workers are not made to pay the price of the pandemic,’ a Unite spokesman told the newspaper.
‘Unite’s strike fund has increased in recent years to ensure our members have appropriate financial security if they are compelled to strike as a last resort.
‘The notion that this is part of some vast, coordinated union conspiracy is nonsense.’
‘This is total rubbish,’ claimed a Unison official. Last year, the government praised important workers for their pandemic efforts; now, ministers are attempting to start a fight with the same low-paid health, care, and council personnel.’