PCS: Small drop in unemployment is no comfort to 2.5 million out of work
The latest unemployment figures offer *no comfort* and show the government urgently needs to create jobs, not cut them, Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
*This small increase in overall employment offers no comfort to the two and a half million people who are out of work.
*The figures also show that unemployment among women is the highest for 15 years and youth unemployment has risen by 12,000 in the last quarter.
*Rather than cutting jobs and adding to the dole queues, the government should be creating employment to help to shorten them.
*We will be asking our annual conference in May to endorse a ballot for national strike action to stop the cuts that will do enormous damage to our economy and our communities.*
PCS*s Department for Work and Pensions group president Jane Aitchison
added: *During the recession the government took on 15,000 extra jobcentre staff who helped save the economy more than £4 billion by getting people back to work.
*But they were temporary workers and, instead of learning a lesson, ministers are now sacking these staff supposedly to save money.
*We’re committed to fighting to ensure that these staff are kept on and given permanent jobs.
ENDS
Notes
– For information and interview requests contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216
– The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK*s sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich – on Twitter @janicegodrich
– Follow PCS on Twitter @pcs_union
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