Union chief demands MORE bumper pay deals for public sector workers after Keir Starmer ‘caved in’ to train drivers and junior doctors _ Hieuuk
Union chiefs are demanding more bumper pay deals for public sector workers after Keir Starmer signed off hikes for train drivers and junior doctors.
TUC head Paul Nowak said big increases to ‘restore’ wages that had been eroded by inflation were a ‘legitimate aspiration’.
The PM has been complaining of a £22billion ‘black hole’ in the government’s books, with eye-watering tax rises looming in the Budget next month.
But Tories point out that funding gap is partly due to generous settlements with unions.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has approved a 14.25 per cent pay deal for train drivers over three years without any concessions on reforming the system.
Sir Keir was condemned yesterday for ‘choosing’ to boost already well-paid rail staff while stripping winter fuel allowance from all but the very poorest pensioners.
TUC head Paul Nowak said big increases to ‘restore’ wages that had been eroded by inflation were a ‘legitimate aspiration’
Sir Keir was accused of ‘choosing’ to hand cash ‘highly-paid’ train drivers instead of helping pensioners heat their homes during bruising PMQs clashes yesterday
Junior doctors have been offered a rise of 22 per cent on average over two years to settle industrial action.
Ministers have argued that ending disputes with unions – many of whom are major donors to Labour – is crucial to improving public services.
But in an interview with the Guardian ahead of the TUC’s annual conference, Mr Nowak suggested that Sir Keir needs to find more cash.
He argued that wages in the public sector have eroded since the credit crunch, and should be ‘restored’.
‘I think restoration of public sector pay is an entirely legitimate aspiration for public sector workers. It shouldn’t be the limit of our ambition,’ he said.
‘I don’t think that in 2010 the situation was perfect, by any stretch of the imagination.’
Mr Nowak insisted that the government will not be able to rebuild public services without getting staff on board, comparing it to ‘trying to fill a bucket that’s got a hole at the bottom’.
The TUC is pushing for a new public sector ‘workforce commission’ bringing together unions, employers and experts to thrash out a strategy on staff and pay.
Sir Keir was accused of ‘choosing’ to hand cash ‘highly-paid’ train drivers instead of helping pensioners heat their homes during bruising PMQs clashes yesterday.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (centre) on the picket line at Euston train station in London earlier this year
The premier was berated by Rishi Sunak for axing winter fuel allowance in the first session since Parliament returned from its summer break.
A rattled Sir Keir was jeered as he repeatedly referred to Mr Sunak as ‘the Prime Minister’, insisting the government has to take ‘tough decisions to stabilise the economy’.
The Tory leader shot back that the economy was in better shape than most competitors.
Asked afterwards why Sir Keir had called Mr Sunak ‘PM’ five times, a No10 spokesman said ‘old habits die hard’.
