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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Call at TUC for public pay strike | Call at TUC for public pay strike |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Unions are being urged to call a public sector-wide strike over the government's pay policy. | Unions are being urged to call a public sector-wide strike over the government's pay policy. |
| The Prison Officers' Association - many of whose members staged an unofficial walkout last year - is making the demand at the TUC's annual conference. | The Prison Officers' Association - many of whose members staged an unofficial walkout last year - is making the demand at the TUC's annual conference. |
| It argues that a 2% settlement is not enough to cope with rising bills. | It argues that a 2% settlement is not enough to cope with rising bills. |
| The TUC agreed that the pay policy was wrong - but said the POA's demands were illegal, as they were political rather than based on a particular dispute. | The TUC agreed that the pay policy was wrong - but said the POA's demands were illegal, as they were political rather than based on a particular dispute. |
| 'Unfair and unjust' | 'Unfair and unjust' |
| Unions who have gathered in Brighton for the conference have long been furious at the Treasury's 2% pay package, which ministers say is needed to keep inflation down. | Unions who have gathered in Brighton for the conference have long been furious at the Treasury's 2% pay package, which ministers say is needed to keep inflation down. |
| But they now argue that rising fuel and food prices make it even more "unfair and unjust". | But they now argue that rising fuel and food prices make it even more "unfair and unjust". |
| We would expect the TUC not to dodge away from this Brian CatonPrison Officers' Association class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5317&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has already decided to ballot its 270,000 members over industrial action. | The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has already decided to ballot its 270,000 members over industrial action. |
| PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Faced with pay cuts, pay freezes and increasing financial hardship, civil and public servants will not tolerate the government's approach to pay, which is disproportionately hitting some of the lowest-paid in the economy." | PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Faced with pay cuts, pay freezes and increasing financial hardship, civil and public servants will not tolerate the government's approach to pay, which is disproportionately hitting some of the lowest-paid in the economy." |
| A TUC conference motion, proposed by Unison and the PCS, calls for "days of action including a major national demonstration against the government's pay policy". | A TUC conference motion, proposed by Unison and the PCS, calls for "days of action including a major national demonstration against the government's pay policy". |
| But prison officers' leaders say this does not go far enough and have tabled an amendment calling for a series of strikes across the public sector. | But prison officers' leaders say this does not go far enough and have tabled an amendment calling for a series of strikes across the public sector. |
| 'Very strange' | 'Very strange' |
| Prison Officers' Association general secretary Brian Caton told the BBC: "The TUC should work towards protecting the vast majority of its members who work in the public sector. | Prison Officers' Association general secretary Brian Caton told the BBC: "The TUC should work towards protecting the vast majority of its members who work in the public sector. |
| "We would expect the TUC not to dodge away from this." | "We would expect the TUC not to dodge away from this." |
| Mr Caton said he found it "very strange" that other union leaders had not backed his call for a public sector-wide strike. | |
| Mark Sewotka: 'Labour must stop worshipping at altar of the rich' | |
| He added: "Everything about it [the pay arrangement] is corrupting. The government is saying that we are responsible for inflation and that's rubbish." | He added: "Everything about it [the pay arrangement] is corrupting. The government is saying that we are responsible for inflation and that's rubbish." |
| However, Unison deputy leader Keith Sonnet said: "We are [already] sending a strong message... We will not be supporting strike action. | However, Unison deputy leader Keith Sonnet said: "We are [already] sending a strong message... We will not be supporting strike action. |
| "The TUC is not in a position to call for a series of general strikes. It is not a trade union involved in negotiations with employers." | "The TUC is not in a position to call for a series of general strikes. It is not a trade union involved in negotiations with employers." |
| Mr Barber agreed, saying: "We have been working very hard to co-ordinate with public sector unions and we have been working very hard to persuade government they have been following is absolutely wrong and must be replaced." | Mr Barber agreed, saying: "We have been working very hard to co-ordinate with public sector unions and we have been working very hard to persuade government they have been following is absolutely wrong and must be replaced." |
| He added: "We are probably going to see industrial action in a number of areas." | He added: "We are probably going to see industrial action in a number of areas." |
| A TUC spokeswoman said of the POA's demand: "It would be a political strike, as it does not refer to a specific dispute with an employer, and would therefore be illegal." | A TUC spokeswoman said of the POA's demand: "It would be a political strike, as it does not refer to a specific dispute with an employer, and would therefore be illegal." |
| The annual conference lasts until Thursday, with union rights, calls for windfall taxes on energy firms and the protection of vulnerable workers also likely to feature prominently | The annual conference lasts until Thursday, with union rights, calls for windfall taxes on energy firms and the protection of vulnerable workers also likely to feature prominently |