The newly-elected leader of the Amicus trade union has warned that he wants an end to "sweetheart deals" with companies.

Derek Simpson, who replaced the more moderate Sir Ken Jackson, said that his union was ready to tear up any deals it considered to not be in their members' interests.

Sweetheart deals, in which unions secure sole negotiating rights, were made when the movement was in retreat, he said.

"Partnership has been a euphemism for the exploitation of many of our members in the last 20 years," he argued.

Alan Johnson, the employment relations minister, has told unions there is "not a cat in hell's chance" of further employment rights which would allow a return to practices such as secondary action.

Johnson, himself a former general secretary of the communication workers' union, said that workers do not want a return to mass strike action.

However, union leaders have warned that they would back strike action for more protection of workers' pensions.