Unions under fire over strike threats

Unions were this afternoon accused of attempting to "intimidate" the Government by warning of a new winter of discontent involving strikes and civil disobedience.

Prime Minister David Cameron urged unions to work with him, saying he wanted to "get around the table and form a genuine partnership".

Business minister, Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, added: "Threats will not work".

They were responding to TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who launched a blistering attack on Mr Cameron's "demolition" government.

Mr Barber warned the current austerity drive would damage public services and cost huge numbers of jobs.

He told the opening day of the TUC Congress in Manchester: "Spending cuts will not only devastate services but do untold damage to our economic prospects."

Mr Barber accused coalition politicians of breaking pledges to spare frontline services, adding: "Every service in every community is under threat."

He said: "This year's election did not give anybody a clear mandate to start slashing public spending. What we've now got is not just a coalition government, but a demolition government."

Union leaders warned of co-ordinated strikes and campaigns of civil disobedience.

Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman told the conference this afternoon it was "the same old nasty Tory party".

Mr Cameron reacted by releasing a statement calling for partnership and Mr Cable told unions: "What we want is a sensible dialogue. My door is open but threats are not going to work."