Commenting on today’s Budget, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “For five years of pain, there appears to be very little gain on offer today for ordinary workers.
“With more money than expected at his disposal, the Chancellor could have called time on the government’s damaging austerity policies.
“Savage spending cuts have forced many local services to close as council and police budgets are squeezed, and hospitals struggle to cope with unprecedented demand at a time of diminishing resources.
“But sadly there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Instead, if the Conservatives are re-elected in May, there’ll be another four years of painful cuts, with the most deprived areas of the country continuing to be hit the hardest.
“There’s been much talk of growth today but millions of public servants continue to feel shut out of the recovery. For many people trapped in low-wage jobs with unpredictable hours, the good times seem a long way off.”
