Olympic strike call

29/02/2012

The leader of Britain's second largest trade union has suggested that industrial action against public sector cuts could take place during the London Olympics.

Len McCluskey, leader of the Unite union, also said that a campaign of civil disobedience should take place.

He confirmed that he was in talks with others in his union over the possibility. But, according to the BBC, union insiders have said there are no specific plans.

Mr McCluskey said the Olympics were an ideal time to get their message across, and cited the government's health and social care bill as an example of why civil disobedience is needed.

Government ministers condemned the call to strike, with Baroness Warsi calling for Ed Miliband to reign in McCluskey, who is one of the Labour leader's biggest financial backers.

Shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said such a strike would be counterproductive and would not make the public sympathetic to the cause. 

McCluskey: Olympics would be good time for civil disobedience

Warsi: Miliband must reign in his cronies

Jowell: No-one wants disruption of Olympics

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