Economy experts call for end to pay bargain
TWENTY five top economists have called on the Government to end national pay bargaining and replace it with regionally-negotiated salary deals.
In a letter to The Times the leading academics — including three based in Cardiff — argued that national pay bargaining was bad for the British economy.
They claimed their idea would make "economic rebalancing in the regions much more likely to be successful".
They wrote: "National pay rates in the public sector means that public sector wages are out of line with local conditions in many parts of the country.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
"In some areas the public sector struggles to recruit staff because wages are too low.
"This worsens public services such as education and health in those areas.
"In other areas the private sector struggles to recruit, making it hard for private sector firms to survive and expand. Neither outcome is good for Britain.
"We need to overcome these issues without exacerbating regional inequalities. To that end we propose to keep the total public sector pay bill in each location the same, while allowing individual wage negotiations. Local wages would then be determined locally, with any savings used to enhance local services."
The letter comes a week after the Trades Union Congress voted in favour of a general strike over Chancellor George Osborne's proposals for regional public sector pay.
Comments
by Neathboy234
Monday, September 24 2012, 4:53PM
“Philosoraptor what are u saying that other countries shouldn't invest here, or does "Investment starts at home", only apply to us. During the next 20 years China will be looking to invest heavily throughout the world, if they see us as inward looking then they will go elsewhere”
by Philosoraptor
Monday, September 24 2012, 3:57PM
“All public workers on the ground level of the public service are underpaid, not only those is certain regions. Stop handing over many billions to other nations and start paying the money here, invest in technology companies on the condition they remain British based and British owned and start buying back some of the companies that were recklessly sold by previous government establishments!
Investment starts at home!”
by Neathboy234
Monday, September 24 2012, 11:49AM
“No doubt regional pay will come in, music to the ears of Plaid and the SNP. The Dis-United Kingdom become more evident with each passing day.”
by weslangdon
Monday, September 24 2012, 11:02AM
“If you do the same job wherever it is in Britain you deserve the same pay, end of story. The real problem is the huge distorting effect that London and the South East has on the whole of the UK, this nonesense is no substitute for a genuine regional policy”