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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Unions back 'co-ordinated' action | Unions back 'co-ordinated' action |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Unions have voted to take "co-ordinated industrial action" against the government over its below-inflation pay settlement for public sector workers. | Unions have voted to take "co-ordinated industrial action" against the government over its below-inflation pay settlement for public sector workers. |
| The TUC annual conference heard that, unless a 2.5% rise in two stages was improved upon, there could be a series of mass strikes this autumn. | The TUC annual conference heard that, unless a 2.5% rise in two stages was improved upon, there could be a series of mass strikes this autumn. |
| Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCU), said many workers were on "poverty wages". | Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCU), said many workers were on "poverty wages". |
| On Monday Gordon Brown said the pay deal was needed to keep inflation down. | On Monday Gordon Brown said the pay deal was needed to keep inflation down. |
| 'Unity' | 'Unity' |
| A motion from by the PCS and the National Union of Teachers said many public sector workers earn as little as £11,000 a year. | A motion from by the PCS and the National Union of Teachers said many public sector workers earn as little as £11,000 a year. |
| To loud applause from TUC delegates, Mr Serwotka said: "When Gordon Brown slams the door in our face, we have to say we aren't accepting it. Unity is strength." | To loud applause from TUC delegates, Mr Serwotka said: "When Gordon Brown slams the door in our face, we have to say we aren't accepting it. Unity is strength." |
| Our members are not the cause of inflation; they are the victims of it Mark SerwotkaPublic and Commercial Services Union Q&A: Public sector pay href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6989269.stm">Delegates' views class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6989051.stm">Analysis: Autumn of discontent? | |
| Steve Cox, of the Prison Officers' Association, added: "None of us want a repeat of the winter of 1978. However, if the government continues like this, we have to be ready for action. | Steve Cox, of the Prison Officers' Association, added: "None of us want a repeat of the winter of 1978. However, if the government continues like this, we have to be ready for action. |
| "If we are left with no alternative, we will all be out on the street." | "If we are left with no alternative, we will all be out on the street." |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the organisation would bring unions together and co-ordinate action, including industrial action and warned that the government would pay a "heavy price" if it did not change its mind over pay. | |
| PCS members at the Department for Work and Pensions have already rejected a three-year deal by three to one and are likely to be balloted on possible strike action within weeks. | PCS members at the Department for Work and Pensions have already rejected a three-year deal by three to one and are likely to be balloted on possible strike action within weeks. |
| Prison guards have staged a walkout, while teachers, police and nurses have been among workers protesting at Mr Brown's public sector pay deal. | Prison guards have staged a walkout, while teachers, police and nurses have been among workers protesting at Mr Brown's public sector pay deal. |
| But, in his first address to the TUC as prime minister, Mr Brown said "pay discipline" was "essential to prevent inflation, to maintain growth and create more jobs - and so that we never return to the old boom and bust of the past". | But, in his first address to the TUC as prime minister, Mr Brown said "pay discipline" was "essential to prevent inflation, to maintain growth and create more jobs - and so that we never return to the old boom and bust of the past". |