MONMOUTH MP David Davies today spoke out about Wednesday’s mass public sector strike, saying he blamed the unions for misleading workers.
Speaking about the industrial action this week, which could involve up to two million people, Mr Davies said: “I fully understand why public sector employees are annoyed at having to make bigger contributions to their pensions and working longer.
“However, this decision has been taken to ensure public sector pensions are affordable decades into the future. At present levels they are not. The government is currently spending £160 billion a year more than it receives in tax – money we are having to borrow. It’s got nothing to do with the banks or the banking crisis. It’s part of a problem that has been going on for years in many western European countries. The unions have tried to blame the current economic crisis on the banks and suggested this is why public sector workers are losing some of their pension benefits. That simply isn’t true.
“If we don’t get public sector pensions and government borrowing under control, we will find ourselves in the same position as Greece and everyone will lose out as a result. The deal being offered by the government guarantees all accrued rights and offers public sector workers a guaranteed inflation-proof pension.
“The irony is that the more we borrow, the more we become dependent on the banks and the financial markets who are lending the money. By demanding that the government spends money which it doesn’t have, the unions actually want us to become more dependent on the banks.
“Yes people in the public sector will have to work for longer, but life expectancy has increased and it’s not fair for one group of workers to expect they should be able to retire years before private sector workers.
“I would urge anyone who wants to have a quick explanation of the financial situation to visit my website or email me at david.davies.mp@parliament.uk so I can send them a short article I have personally written on deficit and debt. I would particularly ask people to read my summary before getting involved in strike action and to contact me with any questions they might have”.