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Trade unions react angrily to prime minister’s comments on Forestry Commission staff

4 February 2011

Trade unions representing Forestry Commission employees in England have, in a letter to the prime minister, reacted angrily to comments made by David Cameron during prime minister’s questions on Wednesday (2 February), and are calling for an apology to the hard-working staff.

Staff at the Forestry Commission expressed their outrage on hearing the prime minister say: “I ask whether there are organisations that could do a better job than the Forestry Commission. I believe that there are.”

Writing on behalf of the joint Forestry Commission’s trade unions, Robert Beaney, joint union chair, in his letter to the prime minister, said: “As civil servants we all accept that governments may, and indeed frequently do, change their minds and their policies and that it is our responsibility to react and adapt accordingly. It is because of the skills and dedication of the staff of the Forestry Commission that staff have, throughout the almost hundred years of their existence, consistently achieved this extremely efficiently and effectively.

“This level of performance has deservedly earned the staff an unrivalled reputation for delivery, which up to now has been acknowledged by politicians of all colours, whether in government or opposition.

“Your comments have left them feeling deeply hurt. This may not have been your intention and I would therefore like to give you the opportunity to apologise and give your assurances of the government’s recognition and appreciation of the years of exemplary service that yours and previous administrations have enjoyed.”

Unite has pledged to fight job cuts announced yesterday (Thursday 3 February) of 29 per cent of the workforce - over 300 jobs - in England's forests. The job cuts are being put forward by the Forestry Commission’s management in response to a 25 per cent reduction in funding imposed by the government as part of the comprehensive spending review. The government has also ordered the Forestry Commission to sell 40,000 hectares of woodland, around 15 per cent of the Commission's land in England.

Unite, PCS, Prospect, the GMB and FDA are the trade unions representing Forestry Commission employees in England.

ENDS

For further information contact Ian Waddell on 07768 931269 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224761.