Today I have written to Gordon Brown to warn him of dire political consequences if the Government follows through on its threat to impose a pay cut on over a million NHS workers.
In their evidence to the Pay Review Body that sets NHS staff pay, the Government have sought to impose an increase of just 1.5%. NHS staff unions have rightly pointed out that with inflation pushing on towards 4% the Government's position represents a significant pay cut for health care staff.
This is madness. The Government seems to have launched itself on an electoral suicide mission. We appear to be sleepwalking into a winter and spring of discontent with possible industrial action being provoked right across the public sector early in the New Year, just before the local, Scottish and Welsh elections.
Polls this week show that Labour's rating is at its lowest in over 20 years. They also show that the public and NHS staff are furious with the Government's cuts and privatisation policies which are ripping through our health care and other essential public services.
Imposing a pay cut on health care workers and across the public sector next year will fuel the anger amongst NHS staff and other public servants who already feel betrayed by the Government. Telling them that they either accept a pay cut or risk more redundancies and service cuts smacks of bullying to me and will do nothing but alienate hundreds of thousands of core Labour supporters.
My letter to Gordon Brown reads as follows:
Dear Gordon,
I am writing to express my concern regarding the Government’s proposal of a pay award of just 1.5% across the public sector and with particular regard to workers in the NHS and civil service. With inflation nearing 4% (as set out in evidence given to the Pay Review Body), this can only be construed as a pay cut for millions of workers, adding fuel to the growing concern of NHS Staff Unions, civil servants, public sector workers and the general public over this government’s handling of public services.
As I am sure you will agree, public sector workers have very demanding jobs and work hard to provide high quality public services. The imposition of such a pay cut will have a highly detrimental effect on the morale of these dedicated public servants and instead of rewarding them for their professionalism and expertise undermines their work, achievement and potential. Combined with the Government’s ongoing plans to introduce the private sector into the NHS and other public services, such a policy critically threatens the quality of health and public services we are able to provide.
Additionally, in a period when, as I am sure you are only too well aware, it is essential that the Government reconnects with our core supporters, the provision of publicly funded and efficient public services is a key priority for our members, supporters and the electorate in general. The polls this week suggest that the party’s rating is at its lowest level in over 20 years. This programme of public sector cuts is already causing considerable anger throughout the movement and can only alienate hundreds of thousands more of our natural supporters.
Many now fear that the Government seems to have launched itself on an electoral suicide mission in advance of the local, Scottish and Welsh elections. The Government appears to be sleepwalking into a spring of discontent with possible industrial action being provoked across the public sector early in the New Year. I urgently appeal to you to fully reconsider these plans before any further resentment is allowed to grow, and the party and Government are seriously damaged as a result.
Yours sincerely
John McDonnell MP
Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington
11 Comments:
I agree, also the issue of pay in the Civil Service where many workers in some departments have not yet had their pay awards finalised for this year.
These awards may not even be in place by spring of next year.
The government must start to treat its own employees better and stop damaging the prospects of a fourth Labour term.
two family members visted me today who are both anaethetists in Nottingham. They are well aware of the NHS cuts seeing them first hand at work and being aware of the local deficits etc so I filled them in on our oppositon through Keep Our NHS Public and this campaign as they didn't know the finer points of these but what struck me was the amount that they knew about all the cuts in the NHS, they quoted loads of examples, of course they will know and they can read the papers on it but they didn't know that Brown's policies were the same as Blair's until I pointed out that he was the architect of all the privtisations and held the purse strings. I just felt that if they were representative of doctors etc in general then God help Blair at the next election, as John says he as alienated most of the public sector far more than they realise, and they probably think that doctors etc are still part of "middle England" as they are the sort of people who voted him in, young professionals who are now reaching consultant level but were just starting their careers when he won. I know this is all a massive generalisation but what I mean is that these are people who are genrally not more than averagely aware of politics but now they are right in the thick of it as they see it's effects in their daily work and crucially will be forced to make medical decisions they don't want to make. Already in my area as we are losing Wycombe A and E an ambulance is supposed to take you to Stoke Mandeville (miles away up dodgy roads in bad condition, badly lit etc and even worse public transport (it would take me three buses to get there no fun with kids in tow) so they take patients out of the county to for example to Wexham Park in Slough... people are going to die in ambulances travelling this far e.g. to reach and intensive care cot...local protests have already raised all these points of course but the bottom line is that as John articulates this policy won't work will risk lives and is political suicide. "Why is Blair doing this?" ask my relations " It's a scorched earth policy that will take years to undo" I reply, it's completely different from when he took power, his ideas are way out of date and unworkable, I explain that PFI is not the only way and so on and they understand. Iraq will bring him down anyway of course I point out but the NHS cuts are really Blair's poll tax I can see it now by the way that people who are normally pretty unpolitical especially between elections are well aware of THIS issue just as the whole country was affected by the poll tax. The fightback (verbal!) is going country wide now.
Yes, Helen, I think the NHS cuts will turn out to be Blair's poll tax. It is a phrase I have heard before and it has a punchy, soundbite ring to it. Let's try and get it into conversations as much as possible.
I agree with you, your saying is so good and usful for me. Thanks. Are you also like
ugg boots sale
ugg australia
uggs
It’s a meaningful and interesting topic. Thanks.
Bailey ugg boots
at a time when large heat has set off a winter 08/09 to Ewha.Outlines the warm wool winter fashion degree to wool crocheted wool
ugg classic
to join after the body does not stimulate your skin soft, soft comfort UP. Fashion can not without
UGG Bailey Button boots
presence in Winter.and ugg boots have many series.such as:
ugg nightfall
Paragraph star UGG boots, many shops Amoy’s that some people go online to buy or Shopping Service, in a word, they are
very good look, take a look at the stars with their own, become a star is a small case! This the reason why
ugg boots sale are so popular now!Put on cotton boots is also moving up and
quiet,such as the ugg boots uk match with the pants.there is also a good dress with Miu leather. At the same time, necessary are gloves, ear muffs, snow ugg boots, sunglasses, scarf and so on, which you can pick the beautiful pieces of dress, no matter how technology, let us heavily armed first.so
now ugg boots sale in many shoes shop.there are many ugg boots you can choose in the
ugg boots uk shop!
Buy Kamagra
Earn Google
M65 Jacket
Viagra Cialis
Cheap Kamagra
Cheap Viagra
Cheap Cialis
Make Money on Google
M65 Field Jacket
Airline Dog Carrier
Airline Dog Carriers
Viagra Cialis
Earn Google
Airline Dog Carrier
Airline Dog Carriers
Airline Approved Dog Carriers
ED Hardy Wholesale
Copy DVD Software
How to Send Fax
14k Yellow Gold
Redneck Costume
14k Gold Heart
Tandem Baby Stroller
ed hardy men’s
ed hardy women’s
cheap ed hardy
ed hardy wholesale
ed hardy clothes
ed hardy shirts
Rubber. Rubber is widly used in the outsole of the athletic shoes.
cheap puma shoes
cheap sport shoes
discount puma shoes
It has the advantages of durable, skipproof, flexible, elastic, extensive, stable and proper hardness.
But the rubber is weighty and easy to be frosting, nonrecoverable.
nike shox torch
nike tn dollar
cheap nike shox
PU. PU is a kind of macromolecule polyurethane materials
cheap nike shox shoes
nike shox r4
ed hardy t shirts
ed hardy clothes
puma mens shoes
Sometimes, it is also used in the outsole of casual shoes.
PU is durable, strong hardness, upstanding flexbility and more important,
cheap nike max
discount nike shox
cheap puma ferrari shoes
The disadvantage is also outstanding. Strong hydroscopic property, go yellow easily,
EVA. Ethylene –Vinyl Acetate Copolymer
nike mens shoes
nike shox nz
discount nike running shoes
which is usually used in the midsole of the running shoes and casual shoes.
EVA is quite lightweight, elastic, flexible and suitable to a variety of climates.
discount nike shoes
nike shox shoes
cheap nike shoes
Just as the rubber, it is also nonrecoverable and go dirty easily.
PHYLON. Phylon is the product of the EVA after the second processing.
nike sports shoes
puma running shoes
puma sneakers
The midsole of running shoes, tennis shoes and basketball shoes in the world is made of the PHYLON.
nike air max tn
puma cat
puma shoes
The upstanding hardness, density, traction and extension make it favorite by the manufacture.
Besides, the lightweight and good flexibility could prolong the life of the shoes.
nike running shoes
wholesale nike shoes
nike shoes
Just as a coin has two sides, Phylon is nonrecoverable and easily shrink under high temperature.
nike shoes kids
nike women shoes
You will never find swimsuit more excellent than in Ed Hardy!
ed hardy ugg boots
ed hardy love kills slowly boots
ed hardy love kills slowly
We provide you with the sexiest swimwear at present. Wanting to be bright on beach in this
ed hardy polo shirts
ed hardy love kills slowly shoes
ed hardy wear
Abandoning traditional concepts on sexy swimwear, Ed Hardy adds tattoo upon, which is meaning
ed hardy love kills slowly shirts
ed hardy trousers
ed hardy jackets
It seems that ed hardy mens shoes was difficult to be able to let you exist out in swimwear, the
ed hardy t shirts sale
ed hardy womens t shirts
ed hardy boots
In the trunks term, the Panerai candy-flush has mainly took the Louis Vuitton Speedy purpose
I fondness ed hardy womens Swimwear shirts, and other printing of
ed hardy womens clothes
ed hardy womens shirts
ed hardy clothes
wimwear this summer to become the mainstream trend. Cool down, sunshine fair,
ed hardy outerwear
ed hardy womens
ed hardy womens jeans
together with the unique thwart-buckle create worn, immediately show a charming beauty.
ed hardy bags
ed hardy winter boots
ed hardy t shirts
Whether it is sexy bikini, or cross-quantity g-star
trunks intended to reach new heights with this dynamic.Enjoy yourself on Ed Hardy Bikini Swimsuit please!
ed hardy bags
ed hardy winter boots
ed hardy t shirts
of bag, but once again the label that ed hardy and the Christian Audigier Brand Manage
ed hardy t shirts for men
ed hardy mens jeans
ed hardy mens shoes
The total spectrum of Audigier Brand Management lifestyle brands and crop will be
ed hardy womens hoodies
ed hardy mens tees
food ranging from ment and woment garb, accessories, footwear.
100203SLLQY
A great part to the information timberland boots i have was acquired by looking up something and finding something timberland shoes else on the way. a free man obtains knowledge from many sources 1 besides Timberland Mens Roll-Top Boots books . if a man empties his purse into his head cheap timberland boots, no man can take it away from him , an investment in knowledge always pays the best timberland 6 inch boots interest. http://www.timberlandlike.com/
100203SLLYH
Our greatest glory uggs boots consists not in never falling but in rising every ugg classic tall time we fall.It is not enough ugg classic boots to be industrious, so are the ants. What are you industrious about ugg classic argyle knit? You have to believe in yourself. That's the ugg bailey button secret of sucess. A wise man never loses anything if he has himself. To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.
Post a Comment
<< Home