The TUC's leader has challenged both ministers and union activists over the government's progress on reforming the public services.

Brendan Barber told ePolitix.com that the government would face continuing difficulties from the unions unless there was a change in attitude.

"They need to talk to us more openly about the major public policy issues in which we've got a proper interest," he said.

"A key area is public services reform. There ought to be an active dialogue with the relevant unions when strategic judgements are made. This is instead of people being presented with fait accompli."

In an interview ahead of the annual TUC conference which begins on Monday, Barber also told this website that the government should challenge trade unionists about the contribution they can make and recognise the contribution workers make to public services.

"If they worked with unions they'd get a much better response than ignoring them and setting them to one side," he said.

Barber claimed that the government "is beginning to realise they need to win back some of their traditional support".

He also told union colleagues that they had to acknowledge real changes achieved by Labour over the last year.

"Some things have changed; the two tier agreement, the breakthrough in information and consultation rights which is a hugely important issue, family-friendly rights, training and skills. These are all moves that have been won just since I've been elected as general secretary," he said.

"It would be wrong to paint a picture that nothing's been moving; all sorts of things have been happening and pretty constructively too."

Barber admitted that significant damage had been caused to relations between unions and the government by the fire strike - which he described as "clearly a very difficult period".

"There remains an extremely strong concern on the trade union side on the piece of legislation that's still being taken through parliament which includes a provision for the government to impose a settlement," he warned.

Last year's conference was dominated by Iraq and Barber said the trade union movement still has strong concerns about the country's reconstruction.

"In particular we're concerned that there ought to be a strong recognition of proper employment standards as part of what people are looking to build in a new Iraq," he said.

"Included in those employment standards should be proper rights and freedoms for trade unions to be formed and represent Iraqi workers."