Con Dem austerity measures are taking heavy toll on living standards

UNISON has published research which highlights the real cost of cuts for public service workers enduring a second year of pay freezes coupled with pension increases - many are thousands of pounds worse off because of the pay freeze, spending cuts, VAT increases, benefits and tax credit changes, as well as inflation, which is pushing up the cost of living. Workers on incomes between £20,0000 and £27,000 will have at least £2,000 less next year, just as the government's increase in public pension contributions is due to come into effect: http://m.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/oct/23/cuts-costing-public-sector-staff-thousands-says-union?cat=society&type=article