WIREDGOV

Commenting on ONS figures released today (Wednesday), which show GDP growth of just 0.4%, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Limp growth is not bad luck, it’s the result of bad political choices. The government has left us trailing our competitors for investment, and it shows. You can see it in falling wages, poor productivity, our big trade deficit and the poor quality of so many jobs.  

“The Chancellor owes the nation an investment budget. He owes it to Britain’s abandoned communities, where people are crying out for modern infrastructure and better work. And he owes it to public sector workers – they invest their hearts and souls in serving the community, it’s time the government invested in them in return.”

Editors note

• The TUC is calling on the government to use next month’s budget to raise public investment in infrastructure from 2.7% to at least the OECD average of 3.5%, and to set out plans to give public sector workers restorative pay rises to redress the year-on-year real pay cuts they have had since 2010.
• The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.6 million working people who make up our 50 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.