UNITED resistance to government anti-strike laws was enthusiastically backed by delegates at the annual conference of the TUC’s Northern region in Newcastle on Saturday.

Delegates condemned the government’s attack on workers’ rights to withdraw their labour as “fascist” and committed affiliated unions to plan now for a battle that would “defy unjust laws” and prepare for solidarity action, including taking the struggle beyond workplaces and into communities.

Train drivers’ union Aslef — which has already defied the government’s Minimum Service Levels (MSL) legislation during strikes — won unanimous support for a five-point plan including mobilisations by other unions and by trades union councils in support of workers who refuse to accept instructions to break strikes.