The news has been greeted with dismay by Labour MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting, who said it was “unacceptable” that the “lower paid staff” would be out of work while the “architects of our defeat” – likely a reference to leader Jeremy Corbyn and his team – kept theirs. Paul Waugh broke the news via social media, posting a statement from the party circulated to employees.
He tweeted: “Message to Labour staff just dropped in their inboxes. Doesn’t sound like good news for their jobs. Or at least some of them.”
The statement advises recipients they are likely to be affected and invites them to a on-to-one meeting “to discuss what the process will be and how we can best support you during what we appreciate is a difficult time”.
It adds: “Not wishing to prolong a period of uncertainty, we intend to hold these meetings over the next few days, and you will be individually invited to attend.
“We are happy to work with you to arrange representation by a workplace colleague or trade union representative and we have copied in the full time officers and union representatives who sit outside this group for information.”
Mr Stressing, a prominent critic of the current Labour leader, who was re-elected on December 12 with a majority of 5,198, tweeted: “It’s really unacceptable that lower paid staff are facing this, while the highest paid – the architects of our defeat – have protected themselves from this.
“It’s the sort of thing you might expect from the worst corporations, not the party of labour.”
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Matt Smith, a regional officer with Unite, which represents some of those affected, said: “Unite has already held joint trade union meetings with the Labour Party and further meetings are scheduled regarding the impact of last week’s General Election result on our hard working members who have put in so much effort and gave up so much of their own time during this campaign.
“Unite will ensure that any of our members affected directly by last week’s result are treated through a fair, transparent and honest process which we would expect from the Labour Party whilst also ensuring our members are fully supported and represented where necessary.”
Express.co.uk has also asked the Communication Workers Union for a statement in respect of the redundancies, which are also likely to affect their members.
A Labour spokesman said: “We don’t comment on staffing matters.”
Last month it was revealed Labour staff on short-term contracts would lose their jobs by the end of the year.
Politics Home reported that 40 members of staff working at Labour’s National Communications Centre in Newcastle were told their contracts would not be renewed when they expire at the end of this month – even though some had been working for the party for more than two years.
A letter sent by a senior Labour Party official said: “As you are aware we have been resourced at general election levels for two years and as a result there are a number of areas that have maintained a higher level of resource than would normally be required.
“This includes the NCC and now that the date of the election has crystallised, contracts will not be extended further.”
One Labour insider told the website: “These were some of the lowest-paid staff in the organisation. No end to austerity for them.”
