UK offers workers pay hikes to end strikes

LONDON — The British government offered millions of public sector workers pay raises Thursday in a bid to end an array of strikes that have crippled trains, health care and other services for more than a year amid the biggest cost-of-living crisis in generations.

On the day that tens of thousands of doctors in Britain’s state-funded health service launched a five-day walkout, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accepted pay recommendations from independent review bodies. But he insisted that there would be no more discussions with unions.

Workers from teachers to train drivers and nurses have pressed for pay that keeps pace with a sharp increase in prices.

“We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlements, and no amount of strikes will change our decision,” Sunak said. He said the accepted recommendations are a “fair deal for the British taxpayer” and offered assurances that they won’t lead to more borrowing and stoke further inflation.

Police will see a 7% pay raise, while teachers will get 6.5%, and the striking doctors, who are at the early stages of their careers in the publicly funded health care provider, will receive 6%.

Hospital consultants, set to strike next week, also will receive 6%. Some professions, including junior doctors, will be getting additional payments.

Already, Sunak said the teaching unions will suspend all planned strikes immediately and will recommend members back the pay offer.

Early signs appear to be mixed for the government.

While the FDA union, which represents civil servants, said the offer appears to be “both fair and reasonable,” the British Medical Association, the doctors’ union, was far more critical.

“Today’s announcement represents yet another pay cut in real terms and serves only to increase the losses faced by doctors after more than a decade’s worth of sub-inflation pay awards,” said professor Phil Banfield, the medical association’s chairman of council.