Government must stop insulting public sector workers, says UCU

Speaking at the TUC Congress Ms Hunt said public sector workers were fed up of being treating as scapegoats and criticised for being greedy.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'It is public sector workers that make Britain work. In health, education, transport, security and the emergency services millions rely on their skill and professionalism every day. So why does the government see the public sector as a problem to be solved rather than an asset to be treasured?

'Public sector workers are attacked as greedy when they complain about pay rises that actually reduce their earnings. They are accused of causing inflation when they dare to challenge the trickle down economics of the current administration. Our members are fed up of being treated as scapegoats. This week we will no doubt be accused of giving the Tories a political boost if we dare criticise the paymasters.

'The problem is not the people affected by government decisions; it is the people making the decisions that are the problem. Money can be found to bail out the banks, yet the piggy bank is always empty when it comes to rewarding hard-working public sector staff.'