UNION leaders have warned there could be strike action if Tory plans to introduce a pay freeze on public sector workers go ahead.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne, MP for Tatton, told the party conference in Manchester that all those on salaries of more than £18,000 would be affected. Teachers, nurses, doctors and police would be among those hit.
The row erupted on the day the Tories were laying out plans for wide-ranging reforms of education.
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Mr Osborne also said ministers' pay would be cut by 5 per cent and he would impose a £50,000 cap on public sector pensions in a bid to slash £7bn of government spending a year.
But Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services union, said there was a 'very strong likelihood' of strikes if the pay freeze went ahead. And Dave Prentis, leader of Unison, said millions of workers would be `left out in the cold' by the freeze.
Others will have to pay with job and service cuts, while bankers and tax cheats escape with a slapped wrist, he said. Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "This was a speech written on the back of a Bullingdon club membership card," referring to the exclusive student dining club at Oxford University of which both Mr Osborne and David Cameron were members.
Mr Simpson added: "George Osborne has made it clear the Tories are going to hit hard-working public sector workers on low pay while preparing to line the pockets of the wealthy through income tax cuts."
Mr Osborne also said a Tory government would stop paying tax credits to households with incomes of more than £50,000.
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Strike threat over Tory pay freeze plan
October 07, 2009
Union leaders have warned of strike action over Tory plans for a public sector pay freeze.
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (07/10/2009 at 10:04)
Dae, Manchester (07/10/2009 at 10:09)
tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (07/10/2009 at 10:12)
Proves that they cant do anything else apart from crying strike!
ebble, manchester (07/10/2009 at 10:16)
Ran Droid, Manchester (07/10/2009 at 10:19)
I'm sure that when people are suffering during the strikes, they'll forego a Michelin-starred meal or two out of comradely understanding.
That bit of fluff, under the sofa (07/10/2009 at 10:27)
Go on, go on strike. Most of your jobs are non-jobs any way.
nyb, ex manc (07/10/2009 at 10:28)
Why not a national pay standstill for 2 years?
mp. (07/10/2009 at 10:30)
nyb, ex manc (07/10/2009 at 10:31)
That would be refuse collectors, nurses, teachers, soldiers, police, fire service, council amenities workers, etc, etc, all those kind of non jobs then?
Chris R, Irlam (07/10/2009 at 10:35)
Ran Droid, Manchester (07/10/2009 at 10:39)
Private sector wages have either been frozen or gone down in most cases.
It's why the unions are barking up the wrong tree, not going to be much sympathy from a nation of workers who don't get the nice pensions and increased job security that comes with Public Sector jobs, when they're told *they* can p*ss up a rope if they want more cash, but the people who get paid by the taxpayer can have one.
It won't be baton-wielding coppers the strikers have to fear, like the miners did, it'll be an enraged public.
Ran Droid, Manchester (07/10/2009 at 10:42)
Teachers and police are covered by existing agreements, their wages are unaffected and won't be frozen.
If you want to see what non-jobs are out there, and there are plenty, I suggest casting your eyes over the Guardians Public Sector jobs pages. It's illuminating. And depressing.
ebble, manchester (07/10/2009 at 10:49)
It is the private sector that pays for the public sector, so if the private sector makes less money and employs fewer taxpayers then one obvious consequence is a smaller, cheaper, public sector. Go to any poor country and you won't find equality officers and wheelie bin snoopers employed by the local council on nice wages and a gold-plated pension.
Chuckster, Cheshire (07/10/2009 at 11:07)
nyb, ex manc (07/10/2009 at 11:07)
My point is that by reacting in such a pavlovian way to the utterances of a politician just plays into their hands. Divide and rule is the game. We are all citizens, all workers, all need to feed families and exist. Demonising public sector workers is just the thin edge of a very big wedge.
As for private sector wages being frozen or reduced. That's just not true, some have, most haven't. But thats not the point. My original comment was intended to be taken as a suggestion to get the country back out of debt as quickly as possible i.e. a national wage freeze for all workers, private, public, whatever; no discrimination, we're all in the boat together, we should pull together.
I don't care what people do for a living as long as it's legal ;~)
Free Red, Manchester (07/10/2009 at 11:09)
nyb, ex manc
7/10/2009 at 10:2
Because the government does not control private sector pay rises and even if they did the employer would pocket the savings not the government.
David Wilson (07/10/2009 at 11:10)
This is the kind of crap that makes the tories un-electible.
I bet the MP's get a rise, including yourself.
You all should take a long look in the mirror, before you condemm other workers for daring to refuse to take what is a pay cut.
If your wage increase doesn't match inflation, then you are always taking a pay cut.
Greed pure and simple from the people who have the most, trying to condem those who have the least.
MP's should try living on 18K a year, no bonusses, expenses or back handers and see how it feels.
You maggot
nyb, ex manc (07/10/2009 at 11:18)
We are not a poor country. All these stupid jobs (and I agree they are pathetic) are the direct result of EU legislation and the British interpretation of EU directives. Go to any EU country and you will find the equivalent to some degree.
I'm sure your local Bin Man can't wait to retire on his gold plated pension. Just because someone works 40 years in the public sector and retires on a decent percentage of pension, doesn't make it a crime. Belive it or not public sector workers still pay tax, national insurance, VAT on purchases, and live amongst us all in a free society where we are all interdependent on each other. Denigratting public sector workers plays into the hands of political bigots who are looking for a scape goat to deflect public ire from their own greed.
GemJar, Manchester (07/10/2009 at 11:20)
Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (07/10/2009 at 11:24)
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Whilst I don't advocate the idiot ramblings of those who advocate that anybody in a role demanding experinence should resign and be replaced by an uneductaed troll for half the money, you can see that there is some room for manouvre here.
Local lad, outsidethebox (07/10/2009 at 11:31)
Here we go again,We are going to loose even more jobs and even more companies with the help of the unions.When will the working man realise that you cannot keep holding these companies to ransome.Britain is known for the unions "that kill trade".Its like our tax system ,when the government want more cash because it keeps getting into casflow problems they tax the rich even more,And then the rich just move out of britain and then we loose even more revenue from tax.Britain isnt learning after decades of loosing jobs and industry.low tax means people invest in britain and stop the unions holding everybody to ransome.
FrostySnowman (07/10/2009 at 11:35)
ebble, manchester (07/10/2009 at 11:44)
If public employees were banned from the internet during work hours we'd need far fewer of them.
The public sector has to face facts. The party is over. Payback time is coming.
nyb, ex manc (07/10/2009 at 11:48)
It's been over 2 decades since the union power base was destroyed.
The unions have no power anymore.
This is all just smoke and mirrors, designed by the Tories to deflect blame from their cronies greed.
Our current position is down entirely to the Financial Sector and its greed over the last 20 years, not union power. Some posters on here are trying to resurrect a beast which became extinct after Maggie bashed them good and proper.
No union in this country has the power, cohesion, or support of its own members to hold anyone to ransom; get real. Remember the Bankers, the Expenses cheats, these are the culprits, lets start getting at them, not our own co workers wherever they work. People have very short, selective memories.
beswick red (07/10/2009 at 11:51)