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Pay protests: Thousands demonstrate over public sector wage awards Pay protests: Thousands demonstrate over public sector wage awards
(35 minutes later)
Protest marches over the issue of low pay rises for public sector workers have begun - with tens of thousands of people expected to join. Protest marches calling for pay increases for public sector workers have begun - with tens of thousands of people expected to join.
Health workers went on strike on Monday in protest at the government's below-inflation 1% pay offer, with civil servants walking out on Wednesday. The "massive turnout" will send a strong message to the government, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Frances O'Grady has said.
The rallies, organised by the TUC and other union bodies, are being held in London, Glasgow and Belfast. Workers are protesting about a below-inflation 1% pay offer - which the government says will safeguard jobs.
The government says pay restraint has safeguarded jobs and services. The TUC-organised rallies are being held in London, Glasgow and Belfast.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said the "best thing" the government could do was "recognise the value of the masses of people here today who have suffered and give them a pay rise".Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said the "best thing" the government could do was "recognise the value of the masses of people here today who have suffered and give them a pay rise".
"Our members didn't cause this recession, our members didn't cause the failures of the banks," he said."Our members didn't cause this recession, our members didn't cause the failures of the banks," he said.
'End the lock-out''End the lock-out'
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has organised the protests under the theme of "Britain Needs a Pay Rise". The TUC has organised the protests under the slogan "Britain Needs a Pay Rise".
It says average wages have fallen by £50 a week in real terms since 2008. Public sector workers including teachers, nurses, civil servants and hospital workers are among those taking part, alongside rail and postal workers and others from private firms.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Our message is that after the longest and deepest pay squeeze in recorded history, it's time to end the lock-out that has kept the vast majority from sharing in the economic recovery." The TUC says average wages have fallen by £50 a week in real terms since 2008.
She added that top directors earn 175 times more than the average worker, yet five million people are earning less than the living wage. Ms O'Grady said: "Our message is that after the longest and deepest pay squeeze in recorded history, it's time to end the lock-out that has kept the vast majority from sharing in the economic recovery."
She said top directors were being awarded 175 times more than the average worker, while five million people were earning less than the living wage.
"If politicians wonder why so many feel excluded from the democratic process, they should start with bread and butter living standards," she said."If politicians wonder why so many feel excluded from the democratic process, they should start with bread and butter living standards," she said.
"An economy that finds money for tax cuts for the rich and boardroom greed, while the rest face a pay squeeze and big cuts to the welfare system - that any of us might need - is no longer working for the many.""An economy that finds money for tax cuts for the rich and boardroom greed, while the rest face a pay squeeze and big cuts to the welfare system - that any of us might need - is no longer working for the many."
Case study: 'Austerity isn't working' Case study: 'My lifestyle is pressured'
John Lynch, an administrative assistant at the tax office in Liverpool, is one of those taking part in the march in London. Mick Bowman, 56, is a mental health social worker for Northumberland County Council who lives in Newcastle and is taking part in the march in London.
He says he earns just under £19,000 a year, while his wife, who works part time, earns £8,000 a year. They have three children. "I've not had a pay rise for four years so with the cost of living rising, that's a very substantial pay cut," he said.
They shop at a range of supermarkets for the best deals, including Iceland and Aldi, and buy their "luxuries" from Tesco, he told the BBC. "At the same time my workload has increased and my job's become more stressful.
John, 47, said the last few months had been "hard" for the family because their eldest son had left school and their tax credits had been reduced. "At the end of every pay month I have to use my credit card to live on. I last had a holiday three years ago. So my lifestyle is pressured.
"At first in the recession, we probably thought maybe we all have to tighten our belts and we were told it may be for a year or so. "I feel extremely angry about this. The national deficit was manageable and the way to deal with it is not to cut jobs and shrink the public sector.
"I remember Cameron and Clegg in the prime minister debates saying they would freeze public sector pay for 12 months. We are now four years in and pay is still frozen." "It's time to invest more in the public sector and get people into a position where they are able to spend more and put more money into the tax system."
On the raising of the tax-free allowance, he said: "It's a little help but when we are increasing pension contributions and cutting pay it's not a big help at all. 'Depth of feeling'
"Austerity isn't working."
GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said members' living standards were still falling.GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said members' living standards were still falling.
"People are currently facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since Victorian times, and wages have fallen in real terms every year since 2010," he said."People are currently facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since Victorian times, and wages have fallen in real terms every year since 2010," he said.
Monday's industrial action was the first strike over pay in the NHS since the 1980s - and the first time midwives had ever taken action.Monday's industrial action was the first strike over pay in the NHS since the 1980s - and the first time midwives had ever taken action.
'Depth of feeling'
Hospital radiographers and prison officers will strike in the coming week as part of the same dispute.Hospital radiographers and prison officers will strike in the coming week as part of the same dispute.
Cathy Warwick, the chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said the response from members showed the "depth of feeling" over the issue.Cathy Warwick, the chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said the response from members showed the "depth of feeling" over the issue.
"For too long our members and their fellow workers have suffered pay freezes with income rapidly falling behind the real cost of living," she said."For too long our members and their fellow workers have suffered pay freezes with income rapidly falling behind the real cost of living," she said.
"They are not asking to be paid like bankers - just a fair reward for the work they do.""They are not asking to be paid like bankers - just a fair reward for the work they do."
Following a TUC attack on high boardroom pay on Friday, a government spokesman said: "Under this government we've seen the largest annual fall in unemployment, more people in work than ever before, and this year the first above-inflation rise in the national minimum wage since the recession.Following a TUC attack on high boardroom pay on Friday, a government spokesman said: "Under this government we've seen the largest annual fall in unemployment, more people in work than ever before, and this year the first above-inflation rise in the national minimum wage since the recession.
"We appreciate that although we are now on the road to recovery, the effects of the recession are still being felt. This is why we have taken continued action to help people by cutting income tax and freezing fuel duty."We appreciate that although we are now on the road to recovery, the effects of the recession are still being felt. This is why we have taken continued action to help people by cutting income tax and freezing fuel duty.
"We also want to restore the link between top pay and performance... we have introduced comprehensive reforms which give shareholders more power to hold companies to account over what they pay and why.""We also want to restore the link between top pay and performance... we have introduced comprehensive reforms which give shareholders more power to hold companies to account over what they pay and why."
Are you taking part in the marches? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you taking part in the marches? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. Or you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. Or you can upload here.
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