THE TUC hit back at Tory attacks on workers’ rights yesterday by calling for a demonstration outside the party’s conference.

Thousands of trade unionists will descend on Manchester for a march and rally on Sunday October 4 — the opening day of the conference.

They will march through the city before holding a rally close to the city centre conference venue in a show of defiance against Tory austerity and attempts to curb strike action.

“This October’s march and rally will allow thousands of ordinary people to show the government exactly what they think of its policies,” said TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady.

“The Conservatives’ planned attack on trade unions and extreme cuts are an assault on working people at a time when they should be focused on securing the UK’s fragile recovery and creating better jobs to boost productivity.”

The action was called after the TUC’s general council met in London on Wednesday to discuss its response to Tories’ re-election.

If passed by Parliament, the government’s Trades Unions Bill would impose a 50 per cent turnout threshold on all strike ballots.

The TUC’s announcement comes after 250,000 people joined the People’s Assembly’s march on Saturday to say they would not lie down and accept five more years of cuts.

And as the Star revealed last week the People’s Assembly is planning a rolling demonstration outside the Tory conference from October 4.

“Each day we’ll have a different themed protest depending on what they’re going to be discussing at the conference,” national secretary Sam Fairbairn told the Star.