David Cameron's party conference speech - UNISON response 05/10/2011

UNISON, the UK's largest union, said today that David Cameron's speech showed just how out of touch he is with hardworking people and their families. The union said he was wrong on the economy, wrong on the NHS, and wrong on public sector pensions.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:

"David Cameron is out of touch with the reality of many working people's lives. Thousands of families in the UK struggle to make ends meet, and many of them are worried about losing their jobs. Millions are out of work, with young people hit especially hard. This speech offers them no hope at all.

"And he is wrong to say that it's fair to make public sector workers work longer and pay more for their pensions. There is no public sector pensions crisis - the schemes don't need this drastic change. Government ministers' plans are just an extra tax on public sector workers to pay down the deficit.

"While ordinary, hardworking families shoulder a huge burden for the crisis, bankers are still making off with billions in bonuses.

"And health workers and patients up and down the country will not be fooled by his warm words on the health service. They know you can't trust the Tories on the NHS."