DISABLED workers must fight with “every bone in their body” to beat back the Tories’ ruthless attacks, Frances O’Grady blasted yesterday.

The Trades Union Congress leader told delegates to TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference that May’s election result had been “terrible news, especially if they have a disability.”

But, as conference went on the attack with a new disabled people’s manifesto, she made clear that unions couldn’t just sit back and absorb the onslaught.

She said: “Let’s send out a clear message today, brothers and sisters, we will fight that attack with every bone in our bodies.

“Don’t under estimate this government’s cunning, but don’t over-estimate its strength.

“They may be ruthless but they are not invincible. We have to be ready to exploit every pressure point, every division, if we’re going to defend ourselves.”

Ms O’Grady heaped praise on the “magnificent, self-organised resistance by disabled workers.”

She added: “We may suffer setbacks along the way (but) if we stick together, campaign together and organise together, we will win.”

Later in the day, the 200 delegates agreed to draw up a new disabled people’s manifesto to be given to MPs as a pledge to stand by disabled people and their rights to equal opportunities.

Unison’s Angela Hamilton said that the charter was “more important than ever” after the Tory election win.

“We were demonised by government ministers and in the media and if you think it will be any different under the Tories, you couldn’t be more wrong.

“They talk a good talk. but what they say and what they do are two different things.”

The charter will outline areas where disabled people have been most affected by government cuts to services, including restoring support for disabled students and tackle discrimination at work.

National Union of Journalists, Unite, Civil Service managers’ union FDA and the National Union of Teachers representatives all spoke passionately in favour of the manifesto.

Unite delegate Dave Allen delivered an emotional speech urging the conference to support measures protecting disabled people’s dignity at work.

“We want to promote justice and dignity for disabled people at work.

“We all know colleagues that have been harassed and discriminated against at work — we need to have that outlined in the manifesto.”