Stop attacks, GMB tells Alexander
A Treasury minister has been urged to tell his coalition colleagues to stop attacking public sector workers amid anger over job losses, pay freezes and pension cuts.Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, defended the Government's policies when he addressed the annual conference of the GMB in Brighton, saying he wanted closer dialogue between his Liberal Democrat party and trade unions.
But after he delivered his speech, GMB president Mary Turner launched into an attack on the Government's treatment of public sector workers, as well as disabled staff in Remploy factories threatened with closure.
"Will you tell your colleagues we have had enough of being treated like something the cat brought in - or on the bottom of a shoe."
Ms Turner, a former school dinner worker, said attacks by the Government was making public sector workers feel they were not doing a good job, when in fact they carried out valuable work in their communities.
The GMB and other unions have been embroiled in a row over controversial pension reforms for over 18 months, and is opposed to pay freezes or caps for council and health workers.
Mr Alexander, making his first speech to a union conference, said the coalition was having to make difficult decisions because of the economic deficit, but he believed the Government shared many of the unions' objectives.
"Although these are incredibly difficult and testing times, there are areas where unions and Liberal Democrat instincts are closely aligned."
He welcomed news that the GMB is to recommend acceptance of changes to the pension arrangements of council workers and urged health workers to reconsider opposition to their proposed new scheme.
The minister said consultations on having different pay rates in different parts of the country would not lead to wage cuts, scrapping of national agreements or the introduction of regional pay.
The GMB and other unions have been embroiled in a row over controversial pension reforms for over 18 months, and is opposed to pay freezes or caps for council and health workers.
Mr Alexander, making his first speech to a union conference, said the coalition was having to make difficult decisions because of the economic deficit, but he believed the Government shared many of the unions' objectives.
"Although these are incredibly difficult and testing times, there are areas where unions and Liberal Democrat instincts are closely aligned."
He welcomed news that the GMB is to recommend acceptance of changes to the pension arrangements of council workers and urged health workers to reconsider opposition to their proposed new scheme.
The minister said consultations on having different pay rates in different parts of the country would not lead to wage cuts, scrapping of national agreements or the introduction of regional pay.
© 2013 Press Association