Trade Union Militancy Fed By Government Lethargy

12.55.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Sep 2003

Vincent Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary

Ahead of today's panel session with Digby Jones, Brendan Barber and Patricia Hewitt at the TUC conference, Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, condemned the Government for losing the trust of the British workforce.

He said: "The Government's lethargy is feeding a worrying return to Union militancy which will not help Britain attract inwards investment."

"The Unions no longer trust this Government. There is a deep grievance among Unions and the workforce over the devastation of company pension schemes while under-performing fat cats get huge payoffs."

"The growth of this reactionary movement is rooted in the feelings of unfairness and uncertainty over pensions which this Government has done little to address."