Looks like we may have to put interest rates up and have that recession after all

j, hassocks, sussex

I just want to say that this people have to change their habits. In the previous years they were relying only on oil. Whole economy is based for oil and because of oil. Residential commercial and industrial development is based kilometers away from where people live. Alternative renew. ene. is neede

aneta, melbourne, australia

Then they face only derision and anger from the tax paying public who fund their naive economic bubble.

wayne, huntingdon, cambridgeshire

What public sector workers have to realise is that they work for what is effectively a company, with a budget, and profits, and costs. Where do they think the money is going to comne from? Less body armour for the armed forces? Less mediecine in hospitals? THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO MORE MONEY!!!!!

George, Grantham, England

Dare I say it, a rash of strikes happened last time a labour government was in power for any length of time and hey presto, it's happening again as the country falls apart........what was the slogan? "Labour isn't working?"

Mr saatchi, London,

One of the enduring myths of modern social history is that Trade Union leaders have the interests of their members at heart.

Peter Bolt, Redditch, UK

The Police have also just been balloted by the Police Federation on demanding full industrial rights. This government is finished.

Mark, Derby, England

Stan Batson has it summed up - the divide grows ever wider, in such wonderfully Socialistically equitable increments -percentage theory holds these in iron grip. However, like our planet's weather systems, these things remain cyclical. We will revert to rule by a miniscule core of megamoguls.

Chris Sorensen, stockport, uk

This whole mind set and way of thinking that ""If I cant have it, why should you" was developed by Sigmund Freud, your under mind control.

Wages in relation to inflation does not mean more TAX!

They have the right to strike.

We should all stand up for what we belive in.

Respect others

Andrew T, england,

We the people have spent years exercising restraint and expecting little while becoming increasingly alarmed and frustrated by double-digit rises for big business, mandarins and ministers. Labour has no moral authority to demand anti-inflationary pay settlements after a decade of boardroom greed.

richard, Horley,

These strikers should try working in the private sector. Cost of living pay rises and final salary pension schemes are a thing of the past. The only way I've got a raise in the past 10 years is by finding another job. If they get a pay rise we'll lose out in higher taxes!

Rick, Surrey,

in 1997 when they got in after years in the wilderness, Tony Blair had a huge mandate to do what he wanted. Are we not now paying a heavy price for giving the Labour Party that mandate? Is there anybody out there who could sort it. What a shame Maggie is not available

Robbie McAndrew, marford, Wrexham

What kind of idiot actually believes any of this governments figures for inflation.
They have lied for years, and this final straw is the one too many for this country to bear.
He should go for an election NOW!!!

Neil Brown, Maidstone,

Is it not richly ironic that the Labour Party has moved so far from its origins, favouring the well-off at the expense of the more vulnerable, that it is now about to be dealt an almighty punch by the hand that fed it?

Robert Christie, Burntisland, Scotland

Percentages only make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
2.75% of the basic pension is £2,47 a week and of teachers on £28K £15 a week. A new system is needed as we all pay the same to live.

Stan Batson, Alcester, Warwickshire, U.K.

To all Union members it's time you sacked your top leaders for blindly supporting Labour with your money and look where that has got you. You have to now strike to get the right pay some great leaders you have? Power corrupts absolute power corrupts asolutely time to look inwards I think!

Andy Moore, Solihull, West Midlands

It must be Labour in power again; the only surprise, it took so
long too waste the money and to achieve this.
I feel there will be more prevarications from Brown.

A Walton, Leicester, England

“Public sector workers cannot be expected to suffer cuts in their living standards...particularly when private sector pay is moving ahead and energy and housing costs are soaring"

Sheer unvarnished greed! Subinflation rises in the private sector for years yet we have to fund sickening union greed

Colin, Glasgow, UK

Not happy with the public sector try your hand in the free market.....you'd better roll your sleeves up and be prepared to graft though!

David , Tewkesbury, England

Much as I dislike Gordon one can't help but to feel his pain. I only wish he will have the courage to introduce legislation to outlaw strikes all together. I mean is not like his got anything to loose, no one likee any longer...what not go out with a bang.

choy, london, uk

Under the last Labour administration we had the "Winter of Discontent" I wonder what this summer will be known as "Summer of Silly Strikes"?

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

People have lived in the shadow of fear from the last recession and watched hard earned working pay and conditions slowly be taken away. Times are geneuinely starting to get tough and people are now really starting to fight. The public sector still has co-ordinated people power and they must use it

Chris, Chipping Norton,

"...Ministers around Mr Brown, determined to restore his battered authority, warned union leaders last night not to try to exploit the Government’s difficulties...."

Well isn't that nice? By the way is that the same union movement that the New Labour Party tried to sever links with?

Austin Tassletine, South West, UK

It's all unravelling now. Stand well back!

Shirley Bowen, Blackpool, UK

I hope that the bin men don't strike in summer, unlike the 'winter of discontent', the bins are going to stink!

Brian Roberts , Plymouth, Devon

Something is going to have to be done about public sector pensions. Much too generous, as a country we simply cannot afford them.

Susan T., Peterborough, UK.

Was it not labour who was in power last time there was such unrest, I believe last time rubbish was left in the streets as the bin men went on strike too... now another Summer of possible strikes await... have we learned now that Labour are bad for the country?

Graeme, Edinburgh,

Come in number ten your time is up.

Peter, Manchester, England