21 February, 2012

GMB CALLS ON ED BALLS TO REVERSE POSITION ON PUBLIC SECTOR PAY

Category: economy — By: Andy Newman at 9:00 am

GMB, the union for public sector workers, commented on the restatement of Labour’s economic policy made by Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls over the weekend.

Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary for Public Services, said. “International agencies and the government itself say that the UK economy is stagnating with the terrible consequences for jobs, families and young people.

That’s why Ed Balls is absolutely right to say that a wait-and-see policy is wrong and unfair to the British people. Mr Balls has now developed Labour’s economic policy beyond supporting short term spending cuts and now says the time is right for reflationary policies to avoid another recession.

Further losses of purchasing power through deflation in the real value of public sector pay is inconsistent and damaging to any attempt to reflate the economy. See below for fall in living standards by occupation. Indeed the most effective means of boosting demand and hence jobs in the economy is by maintaining the spending power of working people – which is also morally the right thing to do. Therefore it is logical and consistent to lift the current public sector pay restraint which is directly choking consumer demand and costing jobs in the private sector. Ed Balls needs to reverse the stance on public sector pay.

GMB call on all political parties who prefer prosperity to austerity to support reflationary policies including removing public sector pay restraint, starting with local government workers who have had no pay rise for nearly three years.”

6 Responses to GMB CALLS ON ED BALLS TO REVERSE POSITION ON PUBLIC SECTOR PAY

  1. Well that’s a step in the right direction for the GMB for a change. All they have to do now is reverse their treacherous ‘Heads of Agreement’ with the ConDems over pensions and it’s members may be gaining a fighting leadership. Though don’t hold your breath on that one.

    Posted by Hch 21 February, 2012 at 10:52 am

  2. Strange. I have just come back from a very militant protest in london where we took up a caochload of strikers, who were addressed by s very supportive Paul Kenny, and joined in protest by a number of national officers. And we announced 3more strike days for next week.

    And you say we dont have a fighting leadership!

    Posted by andy newman 21 February, 2012 at 4:48 pm

  3. More class struggle by numbers from Hch.

    Posted by Anon 21 February, 2012 at 7:03 pm

  4. Always good to see what is normally a more reserved union questioning the austerity measures. However, surely when he accepted the heads of agreement with the government, the GMB agreed to increased pension contributions, which are effectively a pay cut for the members?

    Posted by Socialist V 21 February, 2012 at 7:13 pm

  5. Slightly off topic, but interesting things seem to be happening with the “work experience” aspect of the government benefits attacks following the protests in Tesco stores.

    May warrant a separate thread?

    Posted by Vanya 21 February, 2012 at 7:37 pm

  6. 5# Tesco not happy with the bad publicity

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/21/tesco-paid-jobs-work-experience?fb=native

    Link via Black Triangle

    Posted by jim mclean 21 February, 2012 at 8:13 pm

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