by Lamiat Sabin

UNIONS rallied against Tory plans to “weaken workers’ bargaining power” last night in a push for Labour support ahead of the general election in nine days’ time.

The organisations criticised punishing policies and their repercussions since the Tory-led coalition assumed government five years ago.

Held at the University of London, the Unions Together rally was led by TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady and speeches were made by GMB general secretary Paul Kenny, Unite leader Len McCluskey and Harrow East Labour candidate Uma Kumaran.

Ms O’Grady called for the end of unstable zero-hours contracts, action on low pay and rejecting Tory union ballot “reforms” through workers using their voting power to kick the Conservatives out of Downing Street.

She said: “Since 2010 we have seen a sustained attack on workers’ rights and protection at work, including trade unions.

“And now the Conservative Party has promised even more punitive rules for strike ballots, in a naked bid to wipe out democratic dissent and weaken workers’ bargaining power.

“Working people deserve a better deal. We need employment rights that are fit for the 21st century and make people feel secure and productive at work. It is time to end the hire-and-fire culture of recent years.”

The TUC yesterday highlighted how standards of living have dropped for the first time since the 1960s during the Conservatives’ current term in power.

At least 700,000 jobs are now on a zero-hour contract basis and the “nasty party” are planning to unleash more destructive rules and detrimental public spending cuts, totalling £30 billion per year, if they are voted back in on May 7.

The Tories have also pledged to reform strike ballots by demanding that at least 40 per cent of unionised workers vote to show their support before industrial action can go ahead.

A minimum of 50 per cent was previously considered.

This proposed rule was slammed as undemocratic, as well as hypocritical, as only a handful of Tory MPs won the support of more than half their constituents.

Prime Minister David Cameron was voted into No 10 in 2010 with only 36 per cent of the vote and 23.5 per cent of the electorate backing the Tories.