Unions 'fear' Starmer-led Labor government will fail on public sector pay rises

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The current leader of the labor movement has warned Sir Keir Starmer that any failure to reverse “14 years of attacks on public sector pay” by a Labor government will not be not accepted.

Matt Wrack, president of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and general secretary of the Firefighters' Union (FBU), issued the warning amid concerns about Labor leaders' language on pay deals. /p>

In a recent interview with The Independent, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting made it clear he would not give striking doctors the pay rise of 35 percent that they demanded. Sir Keir was then applauded in last night's televised leaders' debate for saying the same thing.

When asked if he was concerned about the language on pay used by Labor leaders , Mr Wrack replied: "Yes, I think it is an issue that needs to be addressed."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the head of the Labor Party Sir Keir Starmer during the ITV General Election debate (Jonathan Hordle/ITV) (PA Media)

He explained how collective bargaining had seen firefighters get a rise above inflation, unlike government-linked pay review bodies.

He continued: "I think wages have been stagnant for 14 years since 2008, or particularly for the 14 years that they have been under attack, particularly in the public sector.

"I think Labor will definitely have to solve this problem, I don't. I don't think there will be a willingness to accept salary increases below inflation year after year, there needs to be a program to restore people's living standards, particularly in the aftermath of the financial crisis. cost of living.

" So I think that the unions, whether they are...