The umbrella organisation for United Kingdom trade unions has put forward a proposal for a massive expansion of public sector jobs to stave off mass unemployment and help the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) said the UK entered the COVID-19 crisis with its Public Service weakened by a decade of cuts.
“Despite that, Public Service workers gave their all to keep essential services going,” the statement said.
“As we move out of the public health crisis, we are moving towards an economic crisis, with the Bank of England warning of mass unemployment with 2.5 million people out of work by the end of the year,” it said.
The TUC report sets out a plan for public sector jobs to contribute to fast employment growth.
It identifies the additional staff required across the public sector to fill vacancies, address shortfalls in provision and meet future need.
The union body is calling for Government to urgently unlock 600,000 jobs including 135,000 in health, 220,000 in adult social care, 110,000 in Local Government, 80,000 in education and 50,000 in policy and administration.
Taken together with proposals published by the TUC in June to create 1.25 million jobs by fast-tracking green infrastructure investment, the plan could deliver a total of 1.85 million new jobs in the next two years.
General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady (pictured) said the more people in work, the faster the recovery — but Ministers were sitting on their hands.
“It’s absurd to leave unfilled vacancies and unmet need in public services when unemployment is rising. Ministers should urgently provide the funding that will unlock existing Public Service vacancies and create good new jobs,” Ms O’Grady said.
London, 17 September 2020
