In a landmark shift for Britain's largest union, newly elected General Secretary Andrea Egan has issued a stark warning: Unison will never again prop up politicians hostile to the trade union movement. Her declaration marks a decisive break from the past and takes direct aim at the Labour Party's right wing, notably shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.
A Mandate for Democratic Renewal
Egan, a registered social worker who began her career as a low-paid children's residential care worker, was elected on Wednesday. Her victory is historic, as she becomes the first ordinary member to lead Unison in the union's history. She won by a decisive margin, which she interprets as a clear mandate from members to put workers first after years of feeling disregarded.
She argues that decades of blows from Thatcherite policies and employers have weakened unions, but also points a finger at union leaderships that prioritised "careers and cosy Westminster clubs" over defending class interests. "That's the one simple reason I was elected," Egan states. "Members want our union to put our people first."
Confrontation with Labour's Right Wing
The political implications of Egan's leadership are immediate and profound. She explicitly condemns recent attacks by Wes Streeting on resident doctors and their union, labelling his description of striking workers as "morally reprehensible" simply unacceptable.
"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 asserts. While she promises to engage open-mindedly with Streeting as health secretary, she dismisses the idea that swapping Keir Starmer for Streeting or any other right-wing figure in a potential 2026 leadership contest would solve the country's challenges.
A New Industrial and Political Strategy
Egan's plan involves a wholesale transformation of Unison into a more militant, member-led force. Industrially, she has put all employers on notice—including Reform UK-run councils and Streeting's Department of Health—that Unison will fight without hesitation. She pledges to scale up the grassroots "organising to win" strategy from 2021 and launch a strategic review of strike action across the movement.
Politically, she vows Unison will defend working-class interests "without apology," linking this to unwavering support for the Palestinian freedom struggle and opposition to war. She also demands Starmer act immediately over imprisoned Palestine Solidarity Campaign activists protesting for basic rights.
Egan frames her election not as an individual triumph but as a collective victory for ordinary public sector workers who are "disrespected, overworked and underpaid." Her message is clear: the era of acquiescence is over, and a newly assertive Unison is ready for a fight.
