Today the TUC held a national ‘protect the right to strike day’ in protest at government plans to change the law.

The union body has said the governments’ new anti-strike plan is in breach of international law and unworkable.

The TUC has said it will fight the new legislation, “every step of the way.”

The TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty-but the government is attacking it in broad daylight.

“Nobody should lose their job if they take lawful action to win a better deal. But ministers have gone from clapping our key workers to threatening them with the sack.

“On February the 1st will we hold events across the country against this spiteful new bill – which is unworkable and almost certainly illegal.”

The public will be encouraged to show their solidarity for all the workers who are taking action to increase their pay and improve their working conditions.