Gareth Davies MP has welcomed the Government’s decision to provide record pay increases for public sector workers and end industrial action, while sticking to the plan to halve inflation and reduce the cost of living for all.
The headline recommendations of independent pay review bodies – which have economists and trade union representatives on their boards – have been accepted in full. This means public sector workers will see pay rises of between 5-7% this year, covering teachers; doctors, nurses, and other NHS staff; police and prison officers; and our Armed Forces.
Following this announcement, teachers’ unions have suspended all planned strike action with immediate effect. Meaning our children can get back into the classroom and catch-up on learning which was disrupted by Covid. The Prime Minister has urged all other sectors to now follow suit, and get behind our national effort to cut backlogs so everyone can access the services they deserve.
Today’s decision achieves the right between fairness for workers, and fairness for the British taxpayer. Crucially, the pay rises will be funded without an increase in either taxes or borrowing, meaning that they are consistent with the Government's priority of reducing inflation and easing the burden on households across the country.
Instead, fees for migrants’ visa applications and the Immigration Health Surcharge will rise. The Prime Minister has also worked together with the Chancellor in recent months to review and re-prioritise existing budgets by finding savings and redirecting unused funding.
This new pay offer puts more money into the pockets of hard-working public servants and their families, including:
- Teachers - the typical teacher will take home almost £44,300 a year, with a pay increase of more than £2,700. Around 40% of teachers’ pay will rise by between 10 and 17.4%; the largest increase for 30 years.
- NHS staff - first year Junior Doctors basic pay will rise by over £3,000 (10.3%), with the lowest paid GPs seeing an increase of £3,900 (6%) and consultants getting an average increase of around £6,300. The Government’s previously agreed deal with NHS staff delivered a 5% pay rise along with one-off awards worth more than £3,600 for the typical nurse or ambulance worker.
- Police and prison officers - under this offer, the typical police officer will see an increase of nearly £5,000 and there will be increases of between £1,600-£5,000 for prison officers, with a 10% uplift for the lowest paid.
- Armed Forces - the average soldier, sailor, and airman will benefit from a 5% increase alongside a £1,000 consolidated increase, with a 10% rise for the lowest paid personnel.
The Prime Minister has been clear that today’s offer is final; a fair way to end the strikes, a fair deal for workers, and a fair deal for the British taxpayer.
Image via Flickr by Number 10 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/number10gov/52617076454/
