EXCLUSIVE: A supermarket worker hit out at Reform UK’s plans to scrap Labour’s landmark workers’ rights reforms after it emerged Nigel Farage has invited trade unions to affiliate with his party
A supermarket worker who was left “terrified” after being verbally abused at work has warned other union members not to fall for Nigel Farage’s “snake oil”.
Finnola Tzagkaraki, 57, hit out at Reform UK’s plans to scrap Labour’s landmark workers’ rights reforms after it emerged Nigel Farage has invited trade unions to cut ties with Labour and affiliate with his party.
The London-based retail worker told The Mirror: “A few years ago I was verbally abused by a customer at work when I simply asked if he needed help. It escalated quickly.
“He shouted racist remarks at me. Then he threatened to go after my children. I was terrified. My legs were shaking. I didn’t feel safe. The next day I didn’t feel mentally able to go back in. I needed time to recover. But as a single parent relying on Statutory Sick Pay I couldn’t afford to lose even a day’s pay – so I went in anyway. That’s the reality for so many of us.”
Ms Tzagkaraki said her story shows why Labour’s Employment Rights Act – which guarantees access to sick pay from day one – is so important. Reform has vowed to scrap the Act. “I’m not falling for Nigel Farage’s snake oil. And I don’t think other union members should either,” she added.
Unions have rebuffed Mr Farage’s invite to align with his party, with the TUC saying Reform “cosplay as champions of workers”. But it comes after polling showed trade union members are now as likely to support Reform as Labour, with a recent poll by JL Partners showing the two parties tied on 28% among unionised workers.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Let’s be crystal clear: Reform are no friends of working people. If they were, they wouldn’t be planning to rip up workers’ rights like day one sick pay and protection from fire and rehire and zero-hours contracts.
“Reform can cosplay as champions of workers all they like. But the reality is they’re bankrolled by corporate interests and crypto billionaires who want the rules rigged even further in favour of the rich and powerful, not working people.”
FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: “Nigel Farage is a Thatcherite who is an enemy of trade unions and has consistently opposed extending employment rights, as well as workers taking strike action in defence of their jobs.
“As a former Tory party member in the 1980s, Farage was a cheerleader for Thatcher‘s war on the miners and the biggest onslaught on trade unions since the Second World War. As an MP, Farage opposed the introduction of Employment Rights Act to ban zero hour contracts and outlaw fire and rehire.
“A failure to properly listen to working people has opened the door to the nightmare of a ‘far right’ government led by Farage coming to power. The Labour government must urgently change course, by introducing a wealth tax to properly fund public services, pensions and increase pay for all workers.”
TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “The interests of working people are not safe in the hands of Reform UK, a party whose leaders want to protect their own interests at the expense of everyone else.
“A Farage-led government would rip up the Employment Rights Act and launch even worse attacks on workers’ rights than Thatcher. Union members will not be conned by this ridiculously and desperate gimmick from Farage.”
Alex Sobel, the Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, said it’s “outrageous” for Mr Farage “to seek to pose as a champion of workers’ rights, given his consistent hostility to trade unions”.
“Reform UK has no interest whatsoever in promoting employment rights or of campaigning for a national living wage,” he said. “This is pure opportunism from Farage.”
Labour MP Jon Trickett said: “Farage is a sworn enemy of the working class. Trade union members will not be taken in by Farage’s shameful and ridiculous claims to speak up for them.”