Labour

Cameron should take responsibility and negotiate a deal fair to low paid workers and taxpayers alike - Dugher

Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, said in response to reports of David Cameron's article in Wednesday's Sun:

"As we said in June, strikes are a sign of failure and both sides must give ground if a deal is to be reached. This is an industrial dispute that needs to be resolved by government and unions.

"Everyone's concern now must be to avoid the hardship and disruption that will be caused for millions of families who rely on public services if these strikes go ahead.

"But rather than telling hundreds of thousands of low paid, part-time working women who are set to be much worse off that they should not strike, David Cameron should be taking responsibility and trying to negotiate a deal that's fair to low paid workers and taxpayers alike.

"The Government must bear much of the responsibility for what is happening because it jumped the gun and effectively imposed a three percent tax on public sector workers and then refused to negotiate on this. This surcharge is going straight to the Treasury and has nothing to do with the sustainability of public sector pensions.

"It increasingly seems that the Government is happy to see a disruptive strike. David Cameron has privately said that he is 'delighted' that the unions have walked into his 'trap'. This is no way to approach the long term needs of the country and of low paid dinner ladies and nursing assistants - as well as physiotherapists and head teachers - who have worked hard for many years and are approaching retirement.

"Even at this late stage, we urge both sides to exhaust every possible avenue to avoid industrial action. But ramping up the rhetoric and refusing to negotiate on key issues is not going to help avoid next week's strike."