Striking workers to lose state benefits

The cloak of compassion has dropped from Iain Duncan Smith revealing his truly right wing credentials are well aimed at low paid workers. Denying benefits to strikers is a perverse and sickening act designed to hit the families and children of those who exercise a basic human right in taking strike action. There is nothing new in the ability of Government to withdraw benefits due to strike action but the fact he has gone out of his way to remake the case for an existing right of the state to withdraw benefits shows his real audience is the right wing press and Daily Mail readers: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jun/17/workers-strike-lose-benefits&

UNISON's response should be swift and purposeful. We will protect our lowest paid from benefits cuts to enable them to preserve their basic human right to strike.

Universal credit is a stealth means to cut welfare from families and kids. It will deny free school meals to thousands of children. Let's debate universal credit on our trade union terms and tell Duncan Smith to take his pathetic little sound bite elsewhere.

Anna Rose