William Eichler 22 March 2022

Unison calls for above-inflation pay rise for public sector

Unison calls for above-inflation pay rise for public sector  image
Image: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com.

The UK’s biggest union has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to fund an above-inflation pay rise for public sector workers.

Ahead of tomorrow’s spring statement, general secretary of Unison Christina McAnea warned that the cost-of-living crisis has led to many Unison members struggling to feed their families, pay rent and mortgages, cover energy bills, and buy petrol.

‘Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fuel and energy prices were already increasing at the fastest rate in a generation, and the war has only exacerbated this,’ she wrote in a blog post.

‘Nearly a third of UK households are forced to choose between heating and eating, and almost half of the UK’s children are in households that can’t meet the costs of basic necessities.

‘But it’s not too late – if the chancellor makes the right choices.’

Ms McAnea called for Mr Sunak to end the public sector pay freeze, increase the national minimum wage and the living wage, scrap planned tax rises for workers, and reinstate the universal credit uplift.

She also called for ‘meaningful’ action on the costs of energy, fuel, food, housing and childcare.

‘Even though public sector workers have been the force that has carried our society through the pandemic, they now stand to carry the heaviest financial burden,’ Ms McAnea wrote.

‘As prices spiral, any wage increase short of inflation is a pay cut. And as the cost-of-living crisis will increase demand on our public services, we need to retain our experienced public sector workforce and recruit more to deal with understaffing. But a pay cut is not an incentive, it’s an insult.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Practice Supervisor

North Yorkshire Council
£47,181 - £51,356 per annum, pro rata
The service very much promotes flexible working with the ability to work remotely from other bases, as well as working from home Richmond, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Practice Supervisor

North Yorkshire Council
£47,181 - £51,356 per annum, pro rata
The service very much promotes flexible working with the ability to work remotely from other bases, as well as working from home Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Legal Assistant Litigation

Durham County Council
£30,024 to £33,699 p.a. (Grade 7)
The Council’s Regulatory & Enforcement team is expanding and is looking to appoint a legal assistant to support and enhance its litigation work.   WHA Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Customer Services Assistants

Durham County Council
£24,790 to £25,992 p.a. (Grade 4)
A vacancy has arisen within Transactional and Customer Services for two  Customer Services Assistant working full time, 37 hours per week. Your primar Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Litigation Lawyer

Durham County Council
£47,181 to £51,356 p.a. (Grade 13)
The Council’s Regulatory & Enforcement team is expanding and is looking to appoint a lawyer to support and enhance its litigation work.   WHAT IS INVO Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner