Autumn statement: George Osborne warns unions of further pay restraints

[LeftishBrit]

Osborne's announcement in his autumn statement came as figures published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggest 710,000 public sector jobs could go within the next five years.

In a raft of announcements that will fuel trade union claims that nurses, carers, civil servants and other public sector workers are paying a heavy price for an economic crisis not of their making, Osborne laid out plans to ask pay review bodies to look at how public sector pay could be made "more responsive to local labour markets" to ensure the private sector does not lose out.

The chancellor set out his decision to cap public sector pay rises at 1% a year for two years from 2013 on the back of a two-year pay freeze.

Osborne conceded in his statement to the Commons that the UK risked falling into recession in the coming months and the economy will barely grow next year.

(And much more at link)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/29/autumn-statement-george-osborne-unions


Here's what we're all facing! It would IMO be a pity if at such a time, the UK forum were to continue to degenerate into civil war and mutual 'ignores' over constitutional issues.

[T_i_B]

1. It's not looking good at all at the moment

Economically the outlook is very bleak indeed.

[non sociopath skin]

2. You're right, LB. As far as I'm concerned, discussion on "that" strand is closed.

This is far, far more important and immediate.

The Skin