A government minister has urged trade unions to recognize the “very challenging” financial situation facing the government, amid warnings that new public sector pay offers could spark fresh strike action.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock was responding to a report suggesting that public sector workers, including teachers and nurses, could be offered above-inflation pay increases but that the raises would need to be funded through departmental savings, a plan opposed by some unions.
The report indicated that independent pay review bodies have recommended a nearly 4% pay rise for 514,000 teachers and close to 3% for 1.38 million NHS workers in England. These proposed increases are higher than the 2.8% originally budgeted by the government and are expected to put additional pressure on public finances. Schools and hospitals would be required to find efficiency savings to cover part of the cost.
Teaching unions, including the NEU and NASUWT, have warned of possible strike action if schools do not receive additional funding to cover the salary increases, while nurses have also not ruled out further industrial action.
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