Unions meet to discuss mass strikes

Unions were accused of "looking for a fight" today as they met to discuss mass strikes against government cuts.

Officials representing millions of public and private sector workers were meeting in London to discuss a joint response to George Osborne's £81 billion cuts package.

They have raised the threat of strikes to protest against council job losses, while disputes are also brewing over teachers' pensions and civil servants' compensation payouts.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude urged unions to change tack and work with the coalition instead. He conceded some jobs would be lost but said "we have all got to pay the price" of repairing the economy.

His comments came amid fears Britain could be crippled by a "summer of discontent" if trade unions agree a campaign of co-ordinated strike action.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, said officials were drawing up "contingency" plans for industrial action if ministers did not agree to change direction.