UNISON is warning that the Government is stripping communities back to the
bone with its cuts, as PricewaterhouseCooper predicts that up to 600,000 jobs
could be axed over the next five years.
This figure far exceeds the Office of Budget Responsibilitys forecast of
400,000 by 2015-16. The professional services firm has also warned that the
private sector is not strong enough to pick up the pieces of the public sector
cuts.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
Government cuts are hitting hard and fast – gambling with the lives of
millions of families, as well as the economic recovery. It makes no sense to
add more public sector workers to already growing dole queues. The job cuts
will hit local communities as vital services are withdrawn or stripped back to
the bone.
Job cuts and insecurity are already piling misery on low paid public sector
workers, who are struggling to cope with record inflation, pay freezes and
damaging changes to their pensions.
No wonder the economy is stalling, as people are cautious about buying
household goods, let alone houses. The Government must take urgent action
to stop the devastation of vital services and promote growth, or they risk
throwing the country into a double dip recession.
ENDS