Cameron needs to build trust with local government staff
28 June 2011
The prime minister’s speech to the Local Government Association
can’t disguise the fact that only ‘honest dialogue’ will build the
trust needed to improve council services and help reach a fair
settlement on public sector pensions.
Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said: ”Whatever the prime
minister may claim, local government is another area, just as with
the NHS, where workers simply do not believe what he is saying -
and that is because they do not think the coalition has their
interests at heart. Increasingly, it seems, the public do not
believe his government either. The solution is not to try to
poison the debate, but to support meaningful talks.
”His speech is very selective in relation to facts – he has
highlighted civil servants’ contribution rates as they are by far
the lowest - the reason for this is because it is compensation for
low pay increases over many years. It is a cruel fact that more
than half of the women in the NHS scheme retire on a pension of
about £3,500-a-year.
”Lord Hutton last week backpedalled on the mooted local
government scheme changes, as the opt out rates would be so high
that members would leave in their droves, jeopardising the future
financial viability of the scheme, which would defeat the whole
object of the exercise.
”The prime minister's crocodile tears about the difficulties in
implementing the massive 28 per cent cuts fool nobody. It was
his government that decided these cuts should be front loaded - yet
he attempts to divert attention to the pensions’ issue when only
yesterday the government agreed specific talks on the local
government pension scheme, needed because ministers simply do not
understand how the scheme was funded.
”Rather than congratulating councils for cutting services, David
Cameron should direct his oft vaunted communication skills to
ensuring the upcoming pensions talks are constructive and reach a
fair settlement.
”The unions have never opposed reforms - but we want to be fully
engaged in them, not learning of them via the media. We will
also never sign up to something that will impoverish people who
have done the right thing by saving all their working life for
their retirement.
”We still have talks to come. Far better to allow these talks to be
conducted in a positive spirit for all parties. Honest dialogue is
better than media spin.“
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer, Shaun Noble, on 07768 693940
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