This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7602986.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Unions demand public pay protest | Unions demand public pay protest |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The TUC is facing increasing pressure to organise a major protest campaign against the government's public sector pay policy. | The TUC is facing increasing pressure to organise a major protest campaign against the government's public sector pay policy. |
| Seven unions are supporting the motion which will be debated at the TUC's annual conference in Brighton later. | Seven unions are supporting the motion which will be debated at the TUC's annual conference in Brighton later. |
| They say expecting workers to accept 2% pay rises at a time of rapidly rising inflation is "unfair and unjust". | They say expecting workers to accept 2% pay rises at a time of rapidly rising inflation is "unfair and unjust". |
| One controversial amendment calls on the TUC to go further and organise a public sector-wide national strike. | One controversial amendment calls on the TUC to go further and organise a public sector-wide national strike. |
| The demand comes from the Prison Officers' Association - many of whose members staged an unofficial walkout last year. | The demand comes from the Prison Officers' Association - many of whose members staged an unofficial walkout last year. |
| 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. |
| 'Financial hardship' | 'Financial hardship' |
| 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 unacceptable. | But they now argue that rising fuel and food prices make it even more unacceptable. |
| We would expect the TUC not to dodge away from this Brian CatonPrison Officers' Association Send us your comments | We would expect the TUC not to dodge away from this Brian CatonPrison Officers' Association 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. | Mr Caton said he found it "very strange" that other union leaders had not backed his call for a public sector-wide strike. |
| Mark Serwotka: 'Labour must stop worshipping at the 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 |