AUDIT Commission chief executive Steve Bundred, who probably earns more than £2,000 per week, has recommended a pay freeze for public sector workers – sentiments echoed in your Comment column (Echo, July 6).
All trade unionists, whether public or private sector, should resist these demands.
Firstly, the current economic crisis was not caused by public sector workers, but by spiv bankers, aided and abetted by spineless and sometimes corrupt politicians.
It seems grossly unfair to deny a hospital cleaner a pay rise in line with inflation, when billions have been spent on Royal Bank of Scotland.
Secondly, public sector workers are not well paid.
Hospital ancillary staff and clerical workers in local government earn a pittance.
Moreover, teachers only get a half-decent salary after many years of service. Young teachers with big mortgages and small children struggle to make ends meet.
Finally, a pay freeze for public sector workers would result in falling living standards and depressed demand for goods and services, thus more private sector workers in manufacturing, trade and other services would lose their jobs.
The Government’s tax revenues would be depressed further, leading to additional public sector cuts. Very quickly we would be in a downward spiral like the Great Depression of the 1930s.
John Gilmore, Secretary, Bishop Auckland Association, National Union of Teachers.
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