The leader of the country's biggest trade union has urged Labour to prepare for an early general election because of the continuing economic uncertainty and anger over the Government's policies.
Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, also warned that industrial action over pay, pensions and cuts to public services will continue until the next polling day.
A series of national strikes has been held by public sector workers, teachers are threatening co-ordinated action in the autumn and doctors took industrial action last week for the first time in almost 40 years, while police and prison officers have also staged demonstrations.
"This campaign will run and run, probably up to the next election," said McCluskey ahead of Unite's national conference which opens in Brighton today.
"Governments that don't listen to the concerns of ordinary people tend to get turfed out of office. There will be further campaigns and further strikes and all this will be a major issue at the next election."
McCluskey said Labour has to "get its act together" and prepare for a general election in 2014, a year earlier than the next poll is due.
"The Labour Party would be sensible to prepare for an election. These are extraordinary times - none of us have been here before, no-one knows what is around the corner. Anything can happen, but I hope people don't forget the ineptitude of this government and the blame they are trying to put on workers for the economic crisis.
"We are stumbling from week to week on the eurozone, it is inevitable that Greece will exit the euro but my fear is that it will happen without being properly managed.
"All of this could spin out of control, at a time of divisions within the coalition government which means it could begin to break."
McCluskey said workers desperately needed hope amid the government's austerity measures and "attacks" on public services, adding it was "frightening" that most of the spending cuts haven't been implemented yet.
"We almost face a future with no hope," said McCluskey, who will make his keynote speech to delegates today.
He urged Labour leader Ed Miliband, who addresses the conference later this week, to give details of the party's alternative to the government's policies.
"If it is not a radical alternative to the current policies or despair, one that gives people hope, then Labour will lose the next election."
McCluskey agreed with the GMB union that money given to Labour party pressure group Progress raised "concerns" and said it was right that the party's executive should satisfy itself that the group was not "overstepping the mark."
Unite has been involved in a spate of industrial disputes this year involving fuel tanker drivers, public sector workers and London bus drivers, who went on strike on Friday in a row over an Olympic bonus payment.
"It can only get worse," added the Unite leader.
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PA | Posted: 25/06/2012 06:10 Updated: 25/06/2012 13:33