A RALLYING call for unity in the fightback against increasingly draconian Tory attacks on the public sector was delivered at a pre-rally meeting before Saturday’s Durham Miners’ Gala.

Daniel Kebede, who is to take over as general secretary of Britain’s biggest teachers’ union, the National Education Union (NEU), told the meeting organised by the Institute for Employment Rights on Friday night that unless the government reaches a settlement with the education sector, September will see what is effectively a general strike by teaching unions.

Four education unions, the NEU, NASUWT, NAHT and ASCL, with a collective membership of more than 800,000, are balloting on industrial action, which is planned for September.