Ed Balls calls for strike action to be cancelled
Ed Balls calls for strike action to be cancelled
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Senior government officials reportedly believe union leaders are acting "irresponsibly" by calling for widespread strikes. |  |
Sunday, 27, Nov 2011 11:57
By Jamie Smith
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has called for public sector strikes to be cancelled as they are going to be too disruptive.
He explained it is "terrible" thousands of workers are set to walk out from their positions on Wednesday (November 30th), while chancellor George Osborne has stated there is a good deal on the table for the unions.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show this morning, Mr Balls said: "I don't think anybody wants it, it will be hugely disruptive for families and businesses."
However, he added he has sympathy for the low paid workers who are going on strike from their jobs this week.
Mr Balls called for the coalition government to get back around the table with the unions and come to some sort of agreement ahead of Wednesday's action.
He pointed out it takes both parties to give some ground in order to agree a new deal.
Teachers, transport workers, hospital staff and UK Border Agency officials are among those to be going on strike this week and a senior government official told the Daily Mail that union leaders are behaving "irresponsibly".