Industrial action warning over pay-freeze plan
THE government is facing the threat of industrial action if it imposes a cap on the pay of millions of public-sector workers.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly preparing to announce a limit on the pay of millions of council staff, civil servants, teachers, police and other public servants when he unveils his spending review next week.
Frontline NHS doctors and nurses are expected to be exempt from any cap in recognition of their work during the coronavirus crisis.
Unions reacted angrily to the prospect of a wage freeze after such a tumultuous year, with one saying industrial action could not be ruled out.
The Treasury said it did not comment on speculation, but said public-sector pay restraint was mentioned by Mr Sunak in July, when the spending review was launched.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, said: “Civil servants along with millions of other publicsector workers have kept the country running throughout this pandemic, and the last thing they deserve is another pay freeze.
“Our members have been providing universal credit, collecting tax, securing our borders and prisons in this unprecedented pandemic and have already suffered 10 years of pay restraint.
“Private companies have been allowed to secure lucrative Covid contracts to the tune of £17bn, yet ministers are not prepared to reward their own staff for all the incredible work they have done this year.?
“If Rishi Sunak fails to pay publicsector workers properly, there will be widespread anger and industrial action cannot be ruled out.”
Rehana Azam, national officer of the GMB union, said: “We will not stand by and allow public-sector workers to pay for this crisis with new austerity and a morale-sapping wage freeze. This is a kick in the teeth for those who have been fighting the pandemic.
“Workers have lost loved ones. The crisis is still raging. Now they’re being kicked while they’re down.”
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “A pay freeze would be a bitter pill for care workers, refuse collectors, emergency workers and all the key workers in the public sector who have helped keep the country going through this pandemic.
“Freezing their pay is no way to reward key workers for their service. Unions will fight for the proper pay rise they have earned.”
A new report by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) said private-sector workers had suffered far more from the economic impact of the disease.
The centre-right think-tank said measures were needed to ensure the labour market was not unfairly weighted towards the public sector.
It said that a three-year pay freeze across the public sector could save up to £23bn, helping to plug the hole in the public finances opened up by the pandemic.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The government must do what’s right next week and announce the wage rise all staff have more than earned.”