The yearly gathering of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has taken a fierce stand against the cuts in public spending announced by the new Conservative – Liberal Democrat government coalition, estimated at 25% for most departments. The impact of Ireland's austerity measures should also be a warning to the government that cutting jobs and services risks threatening Britain's economic recovery, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber told delegates. Moreover, “Decent public services are the glue that holds a civilised society together, and we diminish them at our peril,” said Barber, adding “Cut services, put jobs in peril, and increase inequality - that is the way to make Britain a darker, brutish, more frightening place.” Most recently the TUC position gets growing support. A growing number of reputed economists and think-tanks, including the Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development (OECD), suggest that fast-track belt-tightening could be the wrong medicine at the wrong time.
English: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLNE68C02R20100913
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For more information, please contact the editor Maarten van Klaveren, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) M.vanKlaveren@uva.nl. You may find further information on the ETUI atwww.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net. © ETUI aisbl, Brussels 2009.