TUC leaders have urged the Chancellor to introduce a new approach on public-service pay, to safeguard living standards.

A delegation led by TUC President and UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis, and General Secretary Brendan Barber, told Alistair Darling that it was unfair for public servants to be expected to accept pay settlements that fall short of inflation. 

Unions are prepared to consider long-term deals where appropriate, but would not accept a rigid, centrally-imposed policy that ignored recommendations from independent review bodies, they said.

They also told the Chancellor that public service- employers' negotiators needed greater flexibility in their negotations with unions, including scope to address long-term problems in pay, structures and low pay.

The TUC team, which included the General Secretaries of a number of public service unions, will be seeking a further meeting with the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, to continue the talks.