No good news in jobless rise - aloof government out of touch on
workers' fears
16 March 2011
Unemployment increased by 27,000 in the three months to January
to 2.53 million, official figures showed today.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "Youth unemployment
is at record levels and unemployment is the highest in 17 years and
will continue to get worse. It's outrageous for Chris Grayling to
claim there is some good news in these figures. Only a party that
is completely out-of touch with what is really happening to Britain
would try to claim there is hope in its economic policies. There is
no good news only the tragedy of a lost generation of young
people.
"The government's aloof response to mounting unemployment will
give no confidence that it is committed to growth, or it
understands that not only is it stimulating unemployment, it is
also stimulating a rise in insecure work. It is not just
joblessness we need to fear but job insecurity and low waged work.
How can this be deemed growth?
"Not so long ago we thought we'd left the scourge of mass
unemployment behind us. The people of this country have a right to
be very angry that this government has brought ruined lives and
towns back to Britain. Unless this Tory-led government changes
course it will break Britain."
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
