Unions vote for co-ordinated strike action
The Trades Union Congress votes for a campaign of “co-ordinated industrial action” at its annual meeting, in protest at the government’s public sector pay cap.
Fresh complaints about “attacks” on pay, jobs and conditions brought the threat of strikes closer, as the TUC Congress approved a motion supporting unions co-ordinating action.
Unison leader Dave Prentis hit out at the “scandal” of poverty pay and insecurity of casual work.
He told the Bournemouth conference: “As far as Unison is concerned we will campaign, we will organise and move to co-ordinated action across sectors. That’s when we are strongest. It’s the only effective way to break this unjust pay freeze.
“And when we move to action, we expect the Labour Party, our Labour Party, to be there with us, supporting us.”
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady told delegates that the TUC was ready to co-ordinate industrial action where unions wanted it.
The warnings came as the Communication Workers Union confirmed it will ballot more than 120,000 of its members over issues linked to the government’s controversial plan to privatise the Royal Mail.
The company will be given formal notice of the ballot later this week, with voting due to start on September 20 and the result expected in early October.
Firefighters have already voted for strikes over pensions, while teachers are to take industrial action in the coming weeks in a long-running dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions.
‘Thatcher-style divide’
The move towards a general strike came as Ms O’Grady launched a scathing attack on the coalition government for trying to “divide” the country.
She said a “Thatcher-style” divide had opened up between those in and out of work and between top rate taxpayers and everyone else.
Unions had not been vilified in other countries as they were in the UK, she said, adding that more thoughtful Conservatives were nervous about the “war” on workers.
“They worry that attacks on unions, on ordinary decent working men and women look high handed, cold hearted and out of touch.”
Ms O’Grady families were facing problems which “the Eton educated elite, with their serial holidays, hired help and inherited millions, simply haven’t got a clue about”.
She challenged politicians from all parties to say where they stand on issues such as pay, jobs, rights at work and privatisation of public services.