By David Richards

Last updated at 2:01 PM on 11th September 2011

The leader of Britain's biggest trade union today issued a stark warning to the Government that 'continued attacks' on workers' pay, jobs and pensions will provoke unrest.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said it was little wonder that working people were standing up for their rights in the face of the "abuse" they were having to deal with.

He spoke ahead of this week's TUC Congress, which opens in London tomorrow, when calls will be made for co-ordinated industrial action against the government's public sector pension reforms.

Len McCluskey (left) appearing on The Andrew Marr Show.

Len McCluskey (left) appearing on The Andrew Marr Show. Mr McCluskey said: 'All that this country has held dear for 65 years - education for all, our NHS, decent jobs and pensions in retirement, a future for our kids - is under attack'

Civil servants and teachers held a one-day strike in June and further action is being planned for November, possibly involving a huge number of workers.

Mr McCluskey said: "All that this country has held dear for 65 years - education for all, our NHS, decent jobs and pensions in retirement, a future for our kids - is under attack.

"It is under attack by a government with no mandate and a feral ruling class that is being allowed to duck its duty to society.

"This abuse of the struggling many by the cushioned, untouchable few is causing division and stoking anger - little wonder that working people will be forced to stand up and defend what is rightfully theirs.

"Unite rejects the dogma of despair and fear peddled by this government. Let's explode some of the myths surrounding the poison government is spreading on public sector pensions. These are not gold-plated CEOs of FTSE 100 companies.

"These are dinner ladies who if they are lucky will earn a pension of 4,000 - and this government is planning to slash this further still.

"I for one do not want my grandchildren to be asking 'what did you do to stop this abuse and to stop my heritage being taken away?' and for me to reply 'nothing'.

"So, we rule nothing in or nothing out. From civil disobedience to industrial action, this is the moment we defend what is decent and fair."

Mr McCluskey will speak in a debate on trade union rights tomorrow, with calls to resist government attacks on employment rights.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber will tell the congress that moves by banks to water down far-reaching proposals that will split their high street and investment arms should be resisted.

He will tell delegates in his opening address that recommendations by the Independent Commission on Banking, chaired by Sir John Vickers, should be defended against attacks by the banks.

In a speech to the congress, he will will say: "The Vickers team have been asked how to make the banks safe, but the real question is how we make them useful.

"Tougher capital requirements and ring-fencing will be bitterly opposed by the banks, who will now lobby hard to water them down. They should be resisted."

Public sector pensions will be debated by delegates on Wednesday.

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Bet you he is still drawing his 6 figure salery

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Union barons - rather unpleasant greedy rich champagne socialists who are out to destroy our way of life by exploiting their gullible rather dim members. Hope more of them will see through this exploitation.

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Where were the Unions when the pensions of millions where stolen by Gordon and Tony? Oh I Forgot, they think the sun shines out of Labours backside and support Labour no matter what the cost to the country and it's population. The Unions use any excuse to try and bring down any non labour government when they can't do it through the Ballot Box

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The "rights" in question being the "right" to a standard of living and a pension at the expense of taxpayers, many of whom have had to accept a drop in THEIR standard of living and pensions to pay for it.

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Mr McCluskey overlooks the fundamental problem; that all these wonderful entitlements held so 'dear' were probably never sustainable in the first place. The western world has been living on borrowed time for 65 years. Perhaps it is time to reassess what's affordable, rather than continue bleating about what we think we deserve. What chance Mr McCluskey and his ilk, with such vested interest in the status quo, might demonstrate some leadership in this regard and take a pay cut.

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Andrew seems to be giving people a pretty easy ride these days. No one has an issue with protecting low paid worker's pensions. The pensions that need to be cancelled are the fat cat NHS, police, teaching and civil service pensions. Our grandparents didn't fight for a small portion of society to have fat cat privileges at the expense of the majority, and frankly Len can give the FTSE bosses rubbish a rest. More than 99% of us working in the private sector couldn't imagine that kind of salary or pension and our final salary schemes have already been cancelled. The unions need to start living in the real world.

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