"how are you going to convince me that the pain I went through in '84 on strike was any better than now,"

I wouldn't bother, as you've stated your opinion quite clearly.

However regards making comparisons, I would say they the situation as it was then is slightly different to the current one. Importantly the strategy the TUC are advocating in this instance, is one of getting a variety of organisations across the board which represent many different groups of people involved. It's not just about a bunch of grubby Northern agitators who can easily be "othered". It's about little old ladies and disabled kiddies.

Importantly, the actions proposed are to include service *users* as well as service providers, so ideally it won't be a 'them and us' situation. The Mail & Telegraph are no doubt busy working at heading off any potential sense of solidarity the Unions and service providers want to forge with 'the people' or service users.