Barber sends election warning to Labour

Louise Nousratpour
Thursday September 6, 2007
The Morning Star

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber warned the government on Thursday that it could lose the next general election because of "real tensions" over the way that it has treated millions of public-sector workers.

Mr Barber warned that the government was "paying a political as well as an industrial price" for trying to force through "unjustified" pay limits well below inflation.

Speaking before next week's TUC conference in Brighton, he insisted that there had been a "new tone" in the government's relations with unions since Mr Brown became Prime Minister.

But Mr Barber stressed that the improved relations should not disguise the areas where there are real tensions.

He warned that millions of public-sector workers felt "real anger and resentment" over their pay this year.

"I have pressed Prime Minister Gordon Brown very strongly that his absolute rigid position on pay is neither acceptable nor economically viable," Mr Barber said.

He warned that constant reforms, coupled with below-inflation pay deals, had a "negative" impact on workers, who passed their concerns on to family and public service users.

"I hope the government reflects very carefully on the political consequences as well as the industrial consequences," said the TUC leader.

Mr Brown has cited inflation as a reason for his decision to stage a 2.5 per cent public-sector pay award recommended by independent review bodies, which reduces the value to a mere 1.9 per cent.

The measure has led to a growing desire for action among public-sector unions.

Last week, over 20,000 prison officers walked out in anger.

"We don't know anyone who thinks that cutting the take-home pay of vital workers such as nurses and prison officers will make much of an impact on inflation - especially when no action is taken on billions of pounds worth of City bonuses and boardroom excess that do feed straight into house prices," Mr Barber said.

He went on to outline the agenda for what will be his fifth conference as TUC leader.

There will be an emphasis on improving pay and conditions for migrant workers and agency staff, he revealed.

"Ministers accept that too many people at work - particularly migrant workers - face real exploitation.

"I even detect a growing recognition that agency working has become a byword for abuse."

He expressed hope that "this is the beginning of real change, with genuine opportunities for unions to be properly consulted rather than being dictated at from above."