TUC: Fair pay for public workers
Wed 11 Jun 2008
10/06/2008
 |
|
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) claimed there is widespread backing for its Stand up for Public Services campaign, which is pushing for an increase in public sector pay. It said a new YouGov poll showed nine out of ten adults agreed "when working out the cost of living faced by people who work, the government should include the cost of housing and energy bills". TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, commented: "This poll shows very wide public support for the fair pay principles at the heart of union campaigning." Currently, the government base public sector pay rises on the Consumer Price Index, a measure that excludes rising housing costs, the TUC claimed. The poll found 79 per cent agreed public sector pay should keep up with the cost of living and 68 per cent said it was unfair if public servants received lower pay rises than workers in private companies. "Voters think that public sector pay should keep up with the cost of living, and that this should include housing. Nor do they want public sector pay to fall behind private sector pay," Mr Barber added. Servicemen and women were awarded a 2.6 per cent pay rise this year, a move which angered many commentators. Gordon Brown has since pledged the government will "do everything in our power" for the forces, it was reported.
related articles
