Commenting on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Despite all the rhetoric, the previous Chancellor’s austerity plan is still very much intact. There was precious little, if anything, for our beleaguered public services.
“The government is spreading the ‘jam’ far too thinly. Public service workers and the health, education and local council services they provide are hurting badly.
“Aside from those on the very lowest wages, the pay misery for school, hospital and town hallstaff goes on. The government’s stubborn refusal to end the one per cent pay cap means wages are lagging way behind rising food and fuel prices, causingreal financial hardship.
“And with the Brexit storm clouds gathering, the grim economic outlook can only spell more despair for public services.”