UNION leaders in North Lincolnshire have said discussion of a pay freeze in the public sector is an "outrageous" way of tackling Government debt.

Chancellor Alistair Darling has refused to rule out the move after Audit Commission boss Steve Bundred claimed it was a "pain-free" way to help the Government balance its books.

Tory leader David Cameron said public sector pay would have to be much tighter in the coming years.

Julian Corlett, of the Scunthorpe health branch of Unison, which represents health workers in North Lincolnshire, said: "Many of my members are low-paid public sector workers. It's outrageous they should be expected to pay while city bonuses are making a comeback.

"The proponents of this have suggested a pay freeze would be a pain-free option. I find that absurd.

"One of the arguments that has been put forward has been the private sector has had a raw deal so it's the public sector's turn.

"It's an argument of equality of misery and it's absolutely outrageous."

Tony Riley, chairman of the North Lincolnshire Council branch of Unison, said: "I think if it is a government debt the Government should fund it. Obviously, the members in local government have still got bills to pay.

"I'm quite happy to have a pay freeze if everything else freezes – council tax, electricity bills, gas bills. If there was a pay freeze, I think people would accept that rather than redundancies.

"But, obviously, we would have to put that to members and have them make a decision."

Ken Rustidge, NUT executive member for North Lincolnshire, said his members were in the second year of a deal with the Government to increase pay by 2.3 per cent.

He said: "I think, clearly, whoever said that, it is not a very sensible thing. [If the deal was broken] we would work in conjunction with our colleagues and the NUT would go along with that.

"We would go back to our members and seek a response.

"But we have the deal and I am confident the Government will honour that.

"It should be looking at tax avoidance and tax evasion – that's the simple answer. Collecting the money people should be paying.

"That's what it should look at, not trying to hurt the loyal public sector workers."

Steve Garmston, Humberside Police Federation chairman, said: "My members, having gone through so much pain to get this deal, would be horrified to think the Government would even consider reneging on it."

Mr Darling said: "Public sector pay obviously has got to reflect prevailing conditions and, in particular, inflation has come way down.

"We also have to be fair with regard to people who work in the private sector, many of whom have seen their pay conditions tighten."

Mr Cameron said: "Everybody knows public sector pay is going to be much tighter than in the past. "Here we are in 2009, we don't know what inflation will be in the future so I don't think it's the right time to make this decision."

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