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Unions demand public pay protest Unions vote for mass pay protests
(about 1 hour later)
The TUC is facing increasing pressure to organise a major protest campaign against the government's public sector pay policy. The TUC has voted for a major protest campaign against the government's public sector pay policy.
Seven unions are supporting the motion, which is being debated at the TUC's annual conference in Brighton later. The vast majority of delegates at the TUC's annual conference backed the proposal, which said limiting increases to 2% a year was "unfair and unjust".
They say expecting workers to accept 2% pay rises at a time of rapidly rising inflation is "unfair and unjust". Mark Serwotka, of the PCS union, called ministers' argument that it was needed to stem inflation "morally bankrupt".
One controversial amendment calls on the TUC to go further and organise a public sector-wide national strike. An amendment urging the TUC to go further and organise a public sector-wide national strike was rejected.
The demand comes from the Prison Officers' Association - many of whose members staged an unofficial walkout last year.
'Not fair''Not fair'
In his opening speech to the conference, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Too much of contemporary Britain simply isn't fair. In his opening speech to the conference, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber had earlier said: "Too much of contemporary Britain simply isn't fair.
"It's not fair that employees are facing a fall in their living standards while top bosses see their pay packets go up by 20% or even 30%.""It's not fair that employees are facing a fall in their living standards while top bosses see their pay packets go up by 20% or even 30%."
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, 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 commentsWe 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.
A TUC conference motion, proposed by Unison and seconded by the PCS, calls for "days of action including a major national demonstration against the government's pay policy". The conference motion, proposed by Unison and seconded by the PCS, demands "days of action including a major national demonstration against the government's pay policy".
Unison deputy general secretary Keith Sonnet told delegates: "Public sector workers have had enough.Unison deputy general secretary Keith Sonnet told delegates: "Public sector workers have had enough.
"They've been saying very loudly and clearly that they will not accept the imposition.""They've been saying very loudly and clearly that they will not accept the imposition."
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka called the government's pay policy "morally bankrupt". PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We need to get tens of thousands of people on the streets to show how angry they feel."
He added: "We need to get tens of thousands of people on the streets to show how angry they feel."
He said that, if Labour lost its core vote at the next election, and the Conservatives won, the current government would "have themselves to blame".He said that, if Labour lost its core vote at the next election, and the Conservatives won, the current government would "have themselves to blame".
But prison officers' leaders say the motion does not go far enough and have tabled an amendment calling for a series of strikes across the public sector. But the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said the motion doid not go far enough and tabled an amendment calling for a series of strikes across the public sector.
'Not for turning''Not for turning'
Prison Officers' Association general secretary Brian Caton said: "We don't think this Labour government listens. We don't think the Labour government is for turning. This was rejected by delegates using a card vote, after a show of hands proved inconclusive.
POA general secretary Brian Caton said: "We don't think this Labour government listens. We don't think the Labour government is for turning.
Mark Serwotka: 'Labour must stop worshipping at the altar of the richMark Serwotka: 'Labour must stop worshipping at the altar of the rich
"We don't think that because Gordon Brown constantly says it and his predecessor [Tony Blair] constantly said it.""We don't think that because Gordon Brown constantly says it and his predecessor [Tony Blair] constantly said it."
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.