10 September 2004
Civil service unions will launch an impassioned defence of their under-threat workforce next week, boosted by criticism of the government reforms from the leader of the Trades Union Congress.
Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, this week described Labour's plans to shed 104,000 civil service posts as a 'lingering sour point' in the union movement's relations with ministers.
On the eve of the TUC's conference in Brighton on September 12, Barber said that many non-civil service unions had expressed dismay at the extent of the job cuts outlined by the Treasury following Sir Peter Gershon's Whitehall review.
In a proposed motion to the conference, the Public and Commercial Services union has called for a national day of action in support of civil service staff. Barber warned that many unions would support this.
'I think there will be strong support for the unions involved, [as there are] strong doubts about the extent to which the case has been justified,' he said.
Barber claimed there was 'a huge degree of imprecision' in the Treasury's plans, with ministers unable to explain where their axes will fall.
Commenting on the wider target of £21.5bn of Whitehall efficiency savings annually, Barber said the 'depressing bidding war' between the political parties had 'left a bitter taste in my mouth'.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka will kick-start the TUC's public services debate on September 14 by comparing the government's approach to British Airways' recent experiences.
He will tell delegates that, like BA, the government is at risk of cutting so many jobs that it will harm service delivery.
A PCS spokesman said: 'It's important that the public understands how vital civil servants are to Britain.'
Aside from the Gershon agenda, however, Barber claimed the unions' relationship with the government was at its 'most harmonious' since Labour's first term in office following progress made at this summer's Warwick National Policy Forum.
But he warned that the TUC will be 'restless' for change on issues such as the roll-out of two-tier workforce protection across the public services.
A study by the Work Foundation, commissioned by the government/union Public Services Forum and published on September 10, outlined the improved relationship.
It concluded: 'Trade unions generally see the risks of not being involved in reform as greater than the charge of being co-opted by the employer.'
PFsep2004
