Union sets up £25m support fund
The country's biggest trade union has set up a £25 million strike fund to support its members in dispute and make sure they are not "starved" back to work.Unite's fund, the first of its kind, was announced amid warnings that the Government will face industrial action over pay, jobs and pensions right up to the next general election.
General secretary Len McCluskey said the move was aimed at giving workers financial support as well as sending a message to employers that Unite will back its members taking industrial action.
Speaking at Unite's national conference in Brighton, Mr McCluskey warned of further disputes, especially in the public sector, which has been hit by a series of strikes since the coalition came to power.
"Of course there will be trouble ahead - 80% of the Government's cuts haven't even taken place yet. The Government hopes that this climate of fear will cow people into acceptance, but we are saying that people should stand up and fight back."
The Unite leader said bad bosses would try to use the "climate of fear" to claw back conditions won by unions.
"We will resist that," said Mr McCluskey, who complained that British workers had the worst employment protection in Europe."
He added that Unite would be prepared to go "outside the law" if it was forced to protect workers' rights.
He launched an angry attack against the Government, saying it was "forfeiting" the right to rule by being "at war" with the British people.
"A cobbled-together coalition government united on only one thing - that the poor must pay for the bankers' crisis through lost jobs, a destroyed welfare state and falling living standards."
The Unite leader said bad bosses would try to use the "climate of fear" to claw back conditions won by unions.
"We will resist that," said Mr McCluskey, who complained that British workers had the worst employment protection in Europe."
He added that Unite would be prepared to go "outside the law" if it was forced to protect workers' rights.
He launched an angry attack against the Government, saying it was "forfeiting" the right to rule by being "at war" with the British people.
"A cobbled-together coalition government united on only one thing - that the poor must pay for the bankers' crisis through lost jobs, a destroyed welfare state and falling living standards."
© 2013 Press Association