Your pay rises will not match inflation, workers are warned
INFLATION-BUSTING public sector pay rises are ‘unaffordable’, the Transport secretary told unions yesterday.
Mark Harper warned those thinking of going on strike that there ‘simply isn’t the money’ to meet their demands.
but he hinted at progress in talks over rail strikes, saying that pay rises could come if rail workers accept reforms. This followed ‘positive’ talks with Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
Nurses, who are demanding a 19 per cent hike, are set to stage their first nationwide walkouts next month.
And industrial action by transport and postal workers is set to continue in the weeks running up to Christmas, with more strikes and ballots already planned for 2023.
Mr Harper told sky’s sophy Ridge on sunday programme: ‘Inflation-matching or inflationbusting pay rises are unaffordable.
‘We want to try and give all the workers in the public sector who work very hard decent pay rises, but they can’t be inflation-busting pay rises.
‘There simply isn’t the money to pay for those given the context, we haven’t seen those in the private sector either, the private sector pay rises have generally been settled below the level of inflation, which I accept is difficult for people.’
On the BBC’S sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Harper said that rail bosses ‘will have the ability to reach a deal’, when pressed about whether they had the mandate to properly negotiate with the RMT.
‘but we have to be able to have that reform package negotiated, because it’s only that that throws up the savings,’ Mr Harper said.
‘I do not have a bottomless pit of taxpayers’ money to throw at this problem.’
Those hoping the strikes will be called off by Christmas, including TuC general secretary Frances O’grady, welcomed a ‘change in tone’ from the government.
Former Conservative Party chairman sir Jake berry said he had ‘ real hope’ for a settlement as he criticised Mr Harper’s predecessor as transport secretary, grant shapps, for making a ‘big mistake’ by taking a ‘not me guv’ approach to talks.
Mr Lynch agreed that his meeting with Mr Harper was ‘positive’, saying: ‘We’re now starting to get a dialogue.’
He added that the Transport secretary had committed to writing to him about how he plans to take ‘forward steps towards a resolution’.
Last week, Mr Lynch insisted he was ‘not the grinch’ after announcing four 48- hour strikes over Christmas and New Year, saying there had been no improve offer on pay and conditions.
Around 40,000 workers from Network Rail and 14 train companies are set to strike on December 13, 14, 16 and 17, and January 3, 4, 6 and 7.
Public sector workers are calling for significant raises so they do not face real-terms cuts as inflation soars past 11 per cent.
Prime Minister Rishi sunak has agreed to increasing state pensions and benefit payments in line with inflation, but has said nurses’ demands for a 19 per cent hike is ‘unaffordable’.
RCN members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to walk out on
‘No bottomless pit of money’
‘Real hope of a settlement’
December 15 and 20 if the dispute is not resolved.
Health secretary steve barclay has urged the nursing union to ‘come back to the table’ for talks but he is declining to discuss pay, instead wanting to talk about conditions such as pensions, holidays, rosters and the availability of free coffee.
RCN chief Pat Cullen, however, said it is ‘negotiations or nothing’. Writing to Mr barclay she said: ‘ If the negotiation table is empty, we can see you are not serious about progress.’