Ministers attacked for pay ‘empty gesture’

Unions have attacked the government for making an “empty gesture” on public sector pay.

The Treasury published letters from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss to the chairmen of the Pay Review Bodies.

The letters state: “There will still be a need for pay discipline over the coming years... however, the government recognises that in some parts of the public sector, particularly in areas of skill shortage, more flexibility may be required...including in return for improvements to public sector productivity.”

GMB national secretary for public services Rehana Azam said: “Publishing these letters on the eve of Conservative Party Conference are intended to give Theresa May a soundbite to appease her own mutinous backbenchers – they do not provide the plan that our underpaid and overstretched workers need. Pushing forward with slightly less harsh cuts for a small minority of public sector workers will do nothing to win back the trust and goodwill that has been lost.

“Today’sannouncementalso does nothing for the low-paid majority of teaching assistants, local authority workers, police support staff and other public sector workers who are not covered by a pay review body.”