Government lifting of public sector pay cap brings no comfort, union says

Unite, the UK’s largest union, has described the government’s plans to lift the public sector pay cap as a ‘drop in the ocean’ that failed to acknowledge the seven years of pay misery it had inflected on millions of public sector workers.

Research by Unite found that local authority workers have suffered on average a 21 per cent pay cut in real terms since the Conservative government introduced the cap in 2010. The majority of NHS workers have seen their pay fall by 14 per cent.

The government’s briefing, which suggests that pay increases above one per cent for public sector staff will be phased in over a two year period, potentially further undermines the independence of the pay review body process which is meant to govern the pay of much of the public sector.

Gail Cartmail, Unite assistant general secretary, said: “Public sector workers have had to endure seven years of pay misery. Workers, who have dedicated their lives to working for the public, have had to continually cut their household spending. Most now only have enough to just about cover the bare essentials and, in some cases, workers have had to resort to food banks to make ends meet.

“The government’s proposals, which will not even come into effect until 2019 for many workers, are a drop in the ocean and will do nothing, to address the years of pay cuts our public servants have had to endure. Ministers make no mention of compensating workers for their lost wages.

“The government’s proposals appear to further undermine the independent pay review process, which has been neutered by the government’s pay cap.

“The independent pay review bodies must be tasked with tackling the challenges of restoring pay to levels which will help to begin tackling the recruitment and retention crisis that is afflicting our public services.”