MR TONY Blair's "New Labour" was accused of "union bashing" yesterday, after disclosing plans to impose tough new curbs on the right to strike.
Mr David Blunkett, the shadow employment secretary, provoked a union backlash when he declared. "An incoming Labour government is not going to tolerate the activities of armchair revolutionaries whose only interest is disruption, and who see disputes as an opportunity for mischief making.
After a summer of rail tube and postal strikes, Mr Blunkett confirmed Labour now favours binding arbitration in some disputes, without prejudice to the right to strike. He proposed recourse to further ballots of union members during disputes, where employers produced a significant new offer".
The Labour leadership stressed its wish to see new clauses on ballots and arbitration written into agreements voluntarily. But neither Mr Blair nor Mr Blunkett in Blackpool for the Trades Union Congress was prepared to rule out legislation.
Mr Lew Adams, leader of the rail drivers union Aslef, said he was "dumbfounded" by the proposals, and accused the Labour leadership of "trying to bash the unions better than the Tories".
Mr Jimmy Knapp, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, forecast "potential dangers" by the further ballot suggestion, and said it could actually prolong disputes.
Meanwhile, the executive of the Communication Workers' Union confirmed plans to escalate the postal dispute at the Royal Mail with two further one day strikes planned for September 20th and 22nd.
As the Conservatives accused Labour of "talking tough to win votes", Mr Blair insisted he had no plans to "rush" into fresh legislation, and denied any wish to bash the unions.
"We are not going to resolve the problems of the 21st century by the debates of the 1970s and 80s," Mr Blair said in Blackpool.