Boris Johnson is waging culture war against trade unions, warns TUC chief

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady warned that using culture war tactics to demonise unionised staff would backfire as workers across society struggle with wages failing to keep pace with the cost of living. Photograph: Richard Saker/The Guardian

The UK government has been accused of waging a culture war against workers rather than pushing to resolve strikes on the railways, amid growing anger among public sector workers over pay and conditions.

The head of the TUC said ministers appeared to be more interested in stoking tensions between different groups of workers by making an example of striking railway unions and their members before a broader summer of industrial action.