Industrial action against government cuts could be timed to disrupt the London 2012 Olympics, the leader of Britain's largest union has suggested.

Len McCluskey, of Unite, also called for civil disobedience in defence of public services during the Games, in an interview with the Guardian.

But while he said using strike action had been discussed, union sources told the BBC there were no specific plans.

Conservative co-chairman Baroness Warsi said she was "shocked" by his comments.

Mr McCluskey told the Guardian: "If the Olympics provide us with an opportunity, then that's exactly one that we should be looking at.

"The attacks that are being launched on public sector workers at the moment are so deep and ideological that the idea the world should arrive in London and have these wonderful Olympic Games as though everything is nice and rosy in the garden is unthinkable.
'Right to protest'

"Our very way of life is being attacked. By then this crazy Health and Social Care Bill may have been passed, so we are looking at the privatisation of our National Health Service.

"The unions, and the general community, have got every right to be out protesting."

Mr McCluskey said the purpose of protest was "to bring your grievances to the attention of as many people as possible".


Baroness Warsi said it was "an appalling display of naked self-interest" - and called on the Labour leader to intervene.

"The London Olympics will be a great occasion for this country. It is disgraceful for a trade union boss to be calling for mass disruption when the eyes of the world will be on Britain," she said.

"I am shocked that Unite would sink so low as to spoil this great national event for everyone else. Ed Miliband must urgently order his union cronies to rule out disrupting the Olympics."

Shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said no athlete or visitor would understand or sympathise with any disruption.

She said: "If this is a negotiation it should take place in private. Unions and employers should get together and sort it out without threats or disruption to Britain's Olympics."

BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said Unite insiders - asked about their general secretary's comments - had played down the prospect of strikes, with one saying there was "nothing specific planned".

Fuck the Olympics it is an outrageously extravagant wankfest held every four years to indulge a few elite athletes and to benefit a few huge corporations. Local populations are left paying the bill years after the party has finished.

If it must be held, either hold it in the one place or share it around cities that have already held the event so costs might be minimized.

Let the CHAOS begin already.....

It's never going to happen. If it was to go ahead they'd shoot themselves in the foot. Public opinion would be so far against them that if Cameron was to make the smallest concession over pensions, it would be the end of his political career. In fact when I first heard about it I assumed that it was a piece of disinformation. It turns out it wasn't. The unions are detached from reality but this is wackaloon territory.