Gordon Brown yesterday made it clear that this particular self-styled heir to Margaret Thatcher is not for turning over public sector pay, in a speech to the Trades Union Congress.
In a characteristic turn of phrase, the prime minister said his priority for the economy was "stability yesterday, today and tomorrow" - which means sub-inflationary pay deals for hundreds of thousands of public sector staff. So much for Red Gordon - the firebrand socialist of Tory mythology, bent on returning Britain to postwar welfarism and trade union omnipotence.
To increase public sector pay offers, Brown argued, would trigger rising inflation and threaten jobs.
Company directors, it is worth remembering, enjoyed a 37% pay rise last year, a group whose high salaries and tax privileges seem to have escaped Brown's anti-inflationary zeal.
For local authority social workers and fellow town hall staff, the situation is bleak.
From 2004-7, their wages rose by 8.9%, inflation by 9.3% and average earnings by 12.4%.
Council employers - who are doing the Treasury's bidding on this one - have offered 2.475% for 2007-8, compared to a latest inflation rate of 3.8%.
Brown's speech yesterday made it clear he is in no mood for conceding an inch to public sector staff. In fact, when he was chancellor, the Treasury suggested public sector pay should remain more or less pegged to the government's 2% inflation target until 2011.
Such a situation requires unity among trade unions, however while Unison is balloting town hall staff on industrial action, fellow unions GMB and Unite balloting members on the offer itself.
But even were Unison members to back strike action and GMB and Unite-affiliated should reject the offer, forcing an industrial action ballot, things may not be any better.
It seems clear already that Brown will not allow council employers to move an inch, even in the face of a national strike, however protracted or well-supported it is. Brown has staked too much on the issue already, and the right-wing press would give him a roasting were he to "give in to the unions".
Sorry to give such a counsel of despair - but the situation is deeply depressing.
Comments (2)
Brown is surely risking a great deal on his stategy,one can only wonder what tricks he has up his sleeve.My guess is keep your eyes fixed on Brum(the largest local authority).
Posted by Edicius | September 12, 2007 2:32 PM
Posted on September 12, 2007 14:32
The PCS (civil service) motion to TUC congress calling for greater unity among public sector trade unions was passed. However, despite it being seconded by the CWU and the idea of co-ordinated action being popular among trade unionists, I am sure that the leaders of "our great movement" will do their best to divide and rule.
It needs public sector workers to form borough-wide committees to campaign and co-ordinate action between the various unions and take the dispute out of the hands of the leaders and put it in the hands of the rank and file. That, allied to a serious campaign for a public sector all-out strike, may deliver a decent deal.
Posted by Leon Marshall | September 12, 2007 4:11 PM
Posted on September 12, 2007 16:11