The TUC debates opposition to the ConDem austerity measures

The media and talked up the threat from the unions: The Daily Mail warned, “Unions vow to halt UK with strikes”, Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun claimed, “Union leaders are meeting to draw up plans for the biggest strike action the country has seen in decades, in protest at public spending cuts… Britain is teetering on the brink of an Autumn of Discontent”.

Delegates protest against the ConDem cuts as Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England speaks. © Jess Hurd

In fact, whilst delegates showed their opposition to what they widely regard as disastrous and unnecessary cuts in social spending during the speech by Mervyn King (governor of the Bank of England), congress in fact agreed to a “lobby of delegates and fringe meetings at the Liberal Democrat and Conservative conferences” in September and a rally in Westminster on 19 October, on the eve of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review. In March of next year, 11 months after the ConDems first came to office, there may be a “national demonstration” and a national campaign including local communities.

Brendan Barber and TUC delegates launch the campaign against the cuts. © Jess Hurd

Not quite the militant mass strike action predicted by the media: “At present it is a theoretical debate and the government can point to poll ratings showing public support,” TUC’s Brendan Barber told the Guardian, “but once people begin to see the impact, and reality dawns, I think there will be a real reaction”.

Richard Balfe Conservatives envoy to the Trade Union movement. TUC conference © John Harris