Call for fair pay and improved work conditions

This week I am chairing a TUC lobby to raise awareness of the importance of our public services.  The TUC are calling for fair pay for public sector workers and calls on the Government to recognise the importance of the workforce in delivering better services.  This is true across the sector and if we are to recruit and retain the best staff then pay levels are vital in achieving this. 

 It is certainly true that much work has been done since 1997 to improve the conditions of public sector workers.  The Government can be proud that public sector workers have seen their pay increase markedly during this time and when coupled with the introduction of the national minimum wage the Government have made great strides in improving pay across both the public and private sectors.  This does not that there is no more to do however.

 I want to see the Government put an end to the two tier workforce for example.  It is important that when public services are contracted out to the private sector it is not done at the expense of the terms and conditions of the workforce.  I have asked a series of parliamentary questions in the House of Commons recently on this issue and have a meeting with the Cabinet Office scheduled for next week. 

Improving the conditions of temporary and agency workers is also important and the Government’s recent announcement, in conjunction with the TUC and CBI, that an agreement has been reached is welcome.   

There also remains a reduced, yet still significant, gender pay gap.  Female employment in the public sector still tends to be concentrated in the lower paid occupations and women still tend to earn less than their male colleagues.  This gap has been closed in recent years but a stubborn pay gap remains. 

 I recognise that there is a certain amount of disquiet regarding some of the most recent pay settlements.  One of the main teaching unions recently voted to strike and the police have been investigating how they might end their no-striking rule.  However, Unison recently voted to accept their 3 year pay deal.  The problem the Government faces is that in the current global economic climate it is more important than ever to keep inflation under control.  The role of trade unions therefore becomes doubly important.  Understanding needs to be shown for the current economic climate but the concerns of the workforce must be listened to and taken seriously.  It is in nobody’s interest to return to the disputes of the 1970’s and the onus is on the Government to ensure that the public sector workers are treated fairly.    I hope that Monday’s lobby goes some way to achieving this.