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 19 July 2008 15:41 BST

Unions balk at "paltry" pay rises

Thursday, 01 Mar 2007 19:53
NHS staff will be "disappointed" by the latest increases

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Workers' unions have reacted angrily to the government announcement that it would be accepting the recommendation of the Independent Pay Review Body (PRB) and raising public sector pay by an average of 1.9 per cent.

Under the new programme of pay rises, chancellor Gordon Brown said that the treasury would accept all of the PRB recommendations, which means the average pay increase would fall below the inflationary target of two per cent.

GPs on the NHS will get no pay increase, consultants will get an average of 1.3 per cent and nurses will receive a 1.9 per cent rise.

The armed forces were the biggest winners in the new programme, receiving an average increase of 3.3 per cent.

The pay rise programme includes provision for some pay rises to be instituted in two stages – half the pay rise now and half in November.

While the entire pay increase package for some NHS staff would be 2.5 per cent overall, it is the equivalent of under two per cent because of the gradual increase.

The workers' union Unison condemned the government's decision, saying it is a "real let down".

"We believe that 2.5 per cent is low enough, without reducing its value even further by paying it in two stages. That means it is worth a paltry 1.9 per cent," said Karen Jennings, head of health for Unison.

"It is a real letdown for Britain’s nurses and other health professionals, who really do deserve better. They will be deeply disappointed – for the second year in a row they are being asked to accept a pay increase well below the level of inflation."

Ms Jennings added that with the retail price index running at 4.2 per cent, "this award amounts to nothing more than a pay cut. This increase will be eaten up by inflation and leave many nurses struggling".

In announcing the pay changes, health secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "These are sensible increases - fair for staff, consistent with the government's inflation target and affordable for the NHS."

Ms Hewitt said she appreciated that nurses would be "disappointed" by the staging of their award but argued that "overall earnings growth in the NHS will be around 4.5 per cent… as a result of this pay award, the government's pay reforms and opportunities for career progression".End of story


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