Coalition launches ‘gunboat diplomacy’ over public sector pension
talks, says Unite
17 June 2011
The government was accused of ‘gunboat diplomacy’ over public
sector pensions, following chief secretary Danny Alexander’s
hardline intervention.
Unite, the country’s largest union which has 250,000 members
working in the public sector, said that the Treasury-led attack on
the on-going talks between ministers and unions, under the auspices
of the TUC, was ‘disgraceful’.
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: ”It is
completely wrong of Danny Alexander to hit the media airwaves to
make detailed announcements on the current negotiations. It is
tantamount to bombing the talks.
”We have moved in the flash of a media soundbite from tough,
detailed negotiations to gunboat diplomacy by the Treasury.
”As a result, millions of public sector workers, many of them
women, such as classroom assistants, health visitors, and nursery
nurses are in the firing line and face complete uncertainty about
their future pension.
”Independent pension experts and analysts have repeatedly warned
against Treasury-led ‘quick fixes’ which threaten the very
viability of the public sectors schemes. This is because people
will just leave the schemes as they can’t either afford the
contributions or the benefits they will receive will be so low - or
both.
”Danny Alexander has raised issues, such as specific
contributions’ increases, which have never been raised in the
talks.
”Our position is that we entered the TUC-led talks in good faith
and at the conclusion of these talks, we will put the details to
our members for their views. Today’s gunboat diplomacy gravely
threatens the integrity of these negotiations.”
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information, please contact Gail Cartmail on 07768
931305 and/or Unite communications officer Shaun Noble on 07768
693940
