U.K. public-sector pay proposal includes BATUS workers
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 14, 2023.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews A pay proposal for public sector workers in the U.K. would see army personnel paid 5 per cent more plus receive a 1,000-pound “consolidated” increase to their base pay. The bid by the government on Thursday aimed to end an array of strikes that have crippled trains, health care and other services across the United Kingdom for more than a year amid a cost-of-living crisis. As tens of thousands of doctors in Britain’s state-funded health service launched a five-day walkout, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accepted pay recommendations from independent review bodies. But he insisted there would be no more discussions with unions. Forces.net, a news service for armed forces personnel, reported that lowest paid members would receive a minimum of 2,000-pounds (about C$3,400) more per year, including those who are deployed oversees, such as those at British Army Training Unit Suffield. Defence Minister Ben Wallace told parliament: “In addition to the pay award, the MOD has continued to freeze the daily food charge for our personnel, and the availability of free wrap-around childcare is increasing across defence with families able to save around 3,400 pounds per child per year.” Defence personnel are prohibited from striking, but other sectors face a wave of labour disruptions. Teachers, train drivers and nurses have pressed for pay that keeps pace with a sharp increase in consumer prices. Police would see a 7 per cent pay raise, while teachers will get 6.5 per cent and the striking doctors in the publicly funded NHS will receive 6 per cent. “Today’s offer is final,” Sunak said. “There will be no more talks on pay. We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlements, and no amount of strikes will change our decision.” He said the accepted recommendations are a “fair deal for the British taxpayer” and offered assurances that they won’t lead to more borrowing and stoke further inflation. Though inflation has come down slightly from its double-digit peak – to 8.7% – it is far above the Bank of England 2% target. 12-11
