A MILLION public sector workers will get their biggest pay rise in a decade in a move welcomed by Pershore’s MP Harriett Baldwin.
Teachers, police, prison officers, members of the armed forces, doctors and dentists will all benefit from pay rises confirmed by the Government on Tuesday.
It includes 2.9 per cent extra this year for the armed forces, 2.75 per cent for prison officers and up to 3.5 per cent for teachers.
Police will see a two per cent rise, the same increase seen by GPs and dentists.
The one per cent pay rise cap has now been lifted a year after the Government revealed it would ditch the self-imposed block first put in place in 2010, meaning public sector workers will now get salary rises above inflation.
Nurses were offered a pay rise earlier this year, meaning all health service workers are getting increases of between 6.5 per cent and 29 per cent.
“I am delighted this pay rise has been confirmed as public sector workers prepare for the summer break and I am sure they will welcome this good news,” Mrs Baldwin said.
“This announcement is possible thanks to the Government’s balanced approach to managing our finances and will be funded out of departmental budgets.
“Public sector workers perform incredibly important jobs in our society and this will be a great boost to them. With the increased personal tax allowances, it will mean that hardworking people will take home more and more of their regular pay packet.”
Leading unions have criticised the move as pay rises for doctors and dentists only apply to England, while the pay rises for prison officers, teachers, and police officers apply to England and Wales.
The armed forces pay offer is for the whole of the UK.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said: “One million public sector workers have been left in limbo by this cloak and dagger briefing on the last day of Parliament.
“This is not the way to treat dedicated public sector workers who have already suffered eight years of real terms pay cuts. They haven’t even made a proper announcement – it just shows how out of touch Theresa May is.
“In another cynical bid to save her own skin, she is riding roughshod over the proper pay mechanisms – which should independently review public sector wages,” she added.
