Public sector pay rise demands unreasonable?

[stickershock]

I’m a nurse and outraged that we’ll only be getting (most likely) a 3% wage increase. I’m fully in favour of a strike action. But I’ve also just read that the junior doctors are planning a strike if they aren’t awarded a 22% increase 😮

We have all been losing wages year on year but 22% seems unrealistic. AIBU or have they got brilliant bargaining tactics?

The issue is that inflation is so high. The Bank of England is expecting it to be over 11% at the end of the year. That means even an 11% pay increase would only just be a pay freeze, for an actual pay rise, it would need to be much higher.

I cant see how they can give doctors 22 and nurses 3.

(Well I can, tories and sexist attitudes and all that but...)

NHS workers in Scotland have been offered 5 but are looking for 14.

The govt and businesses can't keep expecting to pay shit wages when very few are willing to work for them any more

All public sector workers have had below inflation wage increases for over a decade. A 22% increase might just about get them back to where they were in the mid 2000s.

Unison have told the government they will be Belitung for strike action in the autumn if we don't get a decent increase

@Topgub the government doesn't have a magic money tree so could you please explain where you expect the money for the double figure % pay rises?

not surprised, junior doctors have about five years worth of university loans to also repay. And they work shit hours for crap pay. I think all HCP’s deserve a pay increase to be able to afford to live.

my friends a midwife and barely making monthly bills.

Yes, I agree we’re all due 22% if not more, as a restorative issue, as the junior doctors are naming it. However, how will the govt justify a 22% increase for the junior doctors and 3% for nurses? How would that impact the working relationships on the wards?

We found out they do have a magic money tree for contracts for cronies, and they could use it for wage rises if they gave a shit about ordinary people.

Plus they found a magic money forest to pay for the shit show that is Brexit. Brexit has cost £4,250 per household so far. Thanks to all who voted for that shitshow.

Johnson promised a high wage economy didn't he, and we all know a Tory PM would never tell a lie....

Everyone wants a big pay rise. Very few private sector employees will be getting double figure pay rises either. Where would the money for big public sector pay rises come from? With the cost of living so high people can’t afford more taxes at the moment.

Although saying that, I do think 3% is a bit low. 7% would be fairer.

Johnson promised a high wage economy didn't he

Yup. And what we've got is low wage to cost of living ratio and the highest rate of tax in decades.

Literally every single thing out of his mouth is a lie.

May said the same, then found it to bribe the DUP.

Public sector wages should be based on a % of private sector wages. Otherwise it's unfair as ordinary workers have to pay higher tax in order to fund the wages of public sector workers earning much more than them.

3% is the maximum anyone should be getting. Lots of people in private sector will have had zero. The money just isn't there, so I don't know why some workers think it's OK to ask for pay rises.

Are they wildly out of synch with what they should be getting paid? I’m only asking because the government has significantly raised the starting pay for ECTs, basically I think because of retention, so they’re closer to the pay of more established teachers - is it actually this kind of situation?

The money is always there for MP's pay rises and expenses .

I'm public sector, was hoping for 7%, expecting 3-4%. I worked in the private sector for many years and several years it was 0%, including the year they reduced the pension matching from 12% to 6% (we paid 6%).

I agree with all that you have said @carefullycourageous but you neglected to mention that we are paying a massive amount of money servicing the debt run up by covid and everything else that you mentioned. Are you suggesting that we borrow more money? Because I don't think that we should be saddling the next generation with even more debt than we already have

@Overthebow I guess it's a choice between having enough staff on wards, policing the streets, teaching etc and not. 40,000 nursing vacancies, huge deficit in qualified teaching staff....These jobs are just not attractive anymore, the pensions are no longer 'gold plated', working conditions dire and the public perception of us is awful despite working harder than ever.
Even legal aid lawyers are going on strike now... I haven't had a decent pay rise for a decade yet more and more is expected of us. Do private sector employees get rises ?

@Hoardasurass

Oh.

I thought they did.

They seemed to have one to pay nonsense contracts for ppe we never got or for track and trace that achieved precisely nothing?

Or to decorate flats?

Or for 20% pay rises for mps?

I don't actually care where the money comes from

If you want healthcare of any kind you're going to have to find it.

Same goes for lots of proffesions and jobs.

3% is a big pay cut given inflation is 10%.

We have got a serious problem.

Whilst I absolutely agree with you there aren't as many of them as public sector workers for example. I just don't know where these people think the money is going to come from. None of us want to pay more and all of us want a pay rise.

I’m public sector and can’t remember when I last got more than 1%….sad to say I’d be delighted with 3% 🙄

@Hbh17

Are there no profits in the private sector?!

No ceos getting obscene salaries?

I don't know anyone in private sector that's had a decade of pay freezes and caps... I mean there might be some. Maybe? I'll get 1% if that and continue to bump along the bottom of the pay grade after 14yrs...