UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Monday 28 June 2010

My boy lollipop? Tory cuts strategy revealed‏

Tory 'trade union envoy' Richard Balfe is suggesting that Government concessions on pensions are the key to securing an accommodation with public sector unions on the massive £100bn cutbacks which will decimate public services and add 500,000 to the dole queue.

Balfe told the Daily Telegraph:

“Public-sector pensions are like lollipops for kids. You decide what sort of lollipop you’re going to give, and then you work out how you are going to pay for it. It’s perfectly possible to maintain public-sector pensions at their current level, if you make some fairly modest alterations to employee contributions. Public-sector pensions will clearly be a very significant issue in the wider relationship between the Government and the unions. I hope they can be persuaded of that.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/7855447/Accept-cuts-or-well-target-pensions-David-Cameron-warns-unions.html