PUBLIC-SECTOR workers will respond with further strikes if the government imposes more cuts on essential services, Unison said yesterday.

A composite resolution attacking the Tories’ austerity agenda was passed at the union’s annual delegate conference, pledging to relaunch a “fighting strategy” including “lawful industrial action … up to including strike action.”

The motion was approved as general secretary Dave Prentis vowed to focus on building industrial strength and not rely on the “Tony Blair tribute act” in the running for the Labour leadership.

The union will “co-ordinate any lawful industrial action with other lawful disputes,” the anti-austerity motion said.

In his address to the conference, Mr Prentis promised to “raise our people” and “strengthen [members’] resolve” when they were unsure about going on strike.

“When and where they are strong, we will move to industrial action, whether it be fair pay, privatisation or cuts,” he said.

His vow follows criticism of the leadership’s strategy at a special conference of the union’s local government sector earlier this year, when delegates voiced discontent over how a dispute over pensions had been settled.

It is also understood that other trade unions taking joint strike action in the NHS were concerned that Unison members were not participating in sufficient numbers.

Activists at a number of trade union conferences and fringe meetings over the past few months have criticised union leaders for relying on a Labour election victory to pursue their aims.

But Mr Prentis insisted: “The stark truth is that the leadership of the Labour party is not our top priority, and nor is waiting for the next Labour government.

“We are under attack now from a vicious, vindictive Tory government, attacking our jobs, attacking our democracy, our funding, our right to exist. Our union is in the firing line like never before.”

He condemned party figures for advocating a “shimmy to the centre” and welcomed left MP Jeremy Corbyn’s presence in the debate for making it “more of a contest.”

“Liz, Andy and Yvette are in danger of fast becoming a Tony Blair tribute act,” Mr Prentis said. “In our union, there is no back to the future.”