THE TUC has announced it will hold a special congress on December 9 in its fight against Tory anti-strike laws.

Today plans were laid before Parliament to extend laws designed to provide a minimum level of cover during strikes to rail, ambulance, Border Force and Passport Office staff — and Conservative ministers are aiming to push through the legislation by Christmas.

A special congress last took place over 40 years ago in 1982, to fight Margaret Thatcher’s anti-union legislation, but today the TUC pointed to exceptional circumstances given the unprecedented attack on the right to strike. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “After 13 long years of Conservative government, nothing works in this country any more.

“But instead of getting on with fixing the mess they have created, the Conservatives are hell-bent on making things worse.

“These new laws represent an unprecedented attack on the right to strike. They are unworkable, undemocratic and almost certainly in breach of international law.

“This is the last thing our crumbling public services or our dedicated front-line workers need — these draconian laws will poison industrial relations and drag out disputes.

“The UK already has some of the most restrictive trade union laws in Europe. Now the Tories want to make it even harder for people to win fair pay and conditions.

“That’s why we are calling this once-in-a-generation special congress.

“Unions will keep fighting this spiteful legislation. We won’t stop until it is repealed.”

Transport union RMT has vowed to resist the regulations, with general secretary Mick Lynch warning: “Any employer that seeks to issue a work notice will find themselves in a further dispute with my union.”

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of PCS, which represents thousands of Home Office members in the Border Force and the Passport Office, said: “This wildly unpopular government are going to try force this hostile legislation through before Christmas in typically opportunistic fashion.

“It is obvious to us that they are doing this to avoid a repetition of last year’s powerful wave of strikes by NHS workers, civil servants and railway workers.

“But this disruption has a simple solution: pay your civil servants and your health and railway workers fairly.”

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “This government’s failed approach has led to the worst strikes in decades and now they’re getting their excuses in early for Christmas.”