CRACKDOWN ON MILITANT UNIONS

PM urged to 'stand firm' against rise of militants

- David Williamson

FEARS FOR SUMMER OF DISCONTENT

• Strikes are ‘kick in teeth’ for struggling firms, warn ministers
• Attorney General says it’s time to take on Left-wing radicals

BORIS Johnson has been urged not to “give an inch” to striking rail staff amid fears a contagion of industrial action would “grind the economy to a halt”.

It came as the Treasury warned public sector workers against “wildly excessive” pay claims, with concerns growing that the UK was entering a new era of militancy.

Yesterday, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said there will be more strike action if his railway union does not get a deal, but experts warned of the damage that a new wave of strikes would inflict on Britain’s already pandemic-battered economy.

Inflation, which last week hit a four-decade high of 9.1 percent, is fuelling demands for pay increases.

But the Government has warned that major pay hikes will drive inflation even higher and hurt the country’s poorest.

As Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted Britain’s rail network must “banish the outdated working practices that are holding it back”, there is concern the biggest rail strike for 30 years, which yesterday hit passengers hard for the third time in a week, could be the start of waves of industrial action.

Hundreds of Unite and GMB members at Heathrow have voted to walk out, triggering fears of summer travel chaos, and Royal Mail staff are being balloted on strike action.