TUC chief Brendan Barber is expected to argue against a purely negative campaign The UK’s trade unions are to demand an all-out assault on the government’s spending cuts programme when they gather for the TUC’s annual meeting.
Delegates in Manchester will accuse the Tory-Lib Dem coalition of failing the poor and damaging public services in its bid to reduce the public deficit.
They will vote on holding “joint industrial action” if the government does not change its mind.
But ministers insist they will protect vital public services.
The opening of the TUC’s 142nd congress – the first under a non-Labour government since 1996 – comes amid concern among unions about the speed and scope of the coalition’s programme to reduce the £155bn deficit.
Most Whitehall departments have been ordered to plan for savings of between 25% and 40% ahead of the comprehensive spending review of 20 October.
On Monday the congress will debate a motion calling for “joint industrial action”, potentially leading to strikes if the cuts are not scaled back.
This follows Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ (RMT) leader Bob Crow calling for a campaign of “civil disobedience” in protest.
However, in his speech, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber is expected to speak against a purely critical campaign, asking unions to promote an “alternative to austerity that encourages growth and jobs”.
“The coalition government’s cuts agenda is driven by ideology, not necessity”
Dave Prentis Unison
He will add: “We have to start and win this great debate about the country’s economic future.
“We have to mobilise in every community and every constituency so that the cuts become the issue that decides the next election.”
Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison public services union, will call for united action to defeat the government’s “austerity agenda”.
He will say: “This is the most important congress for a generation. Already we are seeing the signs of blight hitting the poor hardest and creating a north-south divide…
“We are in no doubt that the coalition government’s cuts agenda is driven by ideology, not necessity.”
Mr Prentis will add: “Our counter-coalition can start from strength at this congress and build a movement for an alternative vision.”
Unite, the UK’s biggest union, says it wants a “robust campaign” to protect public services, while the GMB argues that three-quarters of a million jobs could be at risk.
The RMT accuses ministers of launching “all-out class warfare”.
The government is not sending a minister to address the congress but Business Secretary Vince Cable has said he would be willing to speak to representatives to discuss their concerns.
On Sunday, the Conservative mayor of London, Boris Johnson, urged the coalition not to cut large-scale projects in the city, such as Crossrail.
He said: “The point I’m making to government is that you’d have just got to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. This is a sensitive time for the economy…
“You’ve got to make sure you protect those things that are going to deliver long-term growth not just for London but for the whole of the UK economy.”
The five candidates to become Labour’s next leader will also take part in a hustings on Monday, the last such meeting of the campaign.
It comes less than two weeks ahead of the party announcing a successor to Gordon Brown and with trade unions making up almost a third of the electorate in the contest, the contenders keen to make a good impression.
Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman will also address delegates on Monday.
The TUC congress is the curtain-raiser for the party conference season and will be followed over the next three weeks by events held by the Lib Dems, Labour and the Conservatives.
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