Three parties press for pay freeze

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

At least three of the Assembly's main parties are pressing for a pay freeze for public sector workers

At least three of the Assembly's main parties are pressing for a pay freeze for public sector workers after proposals were tabled by the SDLP.

But the party's blueprint for dealing with the £4 billion cuts imposed by the Chancellor sets the bar higher than the two unionist parties.

While the DUP proposed a freeze for those earning more than £21,000, the UUP set the bar at £26,000, and the SDLP plan suggests a hit for those earning above £31,500.

Sinn Fein has signalled "top earners" could be affected.

The SDLP proposal is contained in the party's Partnership and Economic Recovery document, launched as Stormont politicians are involved in talks to agree a new budget in the wake of the central government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).

SDLP finance spokesman Declan O'Loan said the entire £4 billion cuts imposed on the Assembly could be covered by savings and money-raising ideas.

"The SDLP does not accept that we just have to accept the CSR budget as it stands," he said.

The party plan also proposes a 5% pay cut for public servants earning more than £80,000, which would apply to ministers, just as the pay freeze plan would extend to MLAs.

It also wants to abolish junior minister posts, establish the stalled Education and Skills Authority and raise cash with ideas including unfreezing the regional rate, bringing in a plastic bag tax, privatising car MOT centres and rates collection.

The 64-page document was, said the SDLP, a fully-costed and detailed plan. It promised £1.5 billion in efficiency savings, £0.4 billion in spending reductions, £0.5 billion in new revenue and £2 billion in capital receipts.