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Teachers and doctors in England offered 4% pay rise Teachers and doctors in England given 4% pay rise
(about 2 hours later)
Most doctors and teachers in England have been offered a 4% pay rise, after the government accepted recommendations from pay review bodies. Most doctors and teachers in England have been handed a 4% pay rise after the government accepted recommendations from pay review bodies.
The awards are higher than the 2.8% it previously budgeted for, with ministers saying most of the remainder will have to come from existing budgets.The awards are higher than the 2.8% it previously budgeted for, with ministers saying most of the remainder will have to come from existing budgets.
Education unions have broadly welcomed the decision, while warning of cuts to school budgets without extra funding to cover costs.Education unions have broadly welcomed the decision, while warning of cuts to school budgets without extra funding to cover costs.
But health unions have reacted angrily after a smaller rise of 3.6% was offered for NHS staff other than doctors, including nurses and midwives.But health unions have reacted angrily after a smaller rise of 3.6% was offered for NHS staff other than doctors, including nurses and midwives.
The health department says junior doctors, now known as resident doctors, will get an average rise of 5.4% due to a £750 top-up.The health department says junior doctors, now known as resident doctors, will get an average rise of 5.4% due to a £750 top-up.
But the British Medical Association called the rise "woefully inadequate" and confirmed it plans to ballot resident doctors next week over possible strike action.But the British Medical Association called the rise "woefully inadequate" and confirmed it plans to ballot resident doctors next week over possible strike action.
The Royal College of Nursing said it was "grotesque" that nurses had been offered a smaller rise than doctors. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said it was "grotesque" that nurses had been offered a smaller rise than doctors, adding the "failed" pay review body process "keeps nursing staff weighted to the bottom".
The 4% headline award for doctors and dentists mirrors that offered to teachers in England, as well as prison staff. General secretary Nicola Ranger said it would be up to their members to "ultimately decide if it is enough and whether they feel valued".
NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts, covering most staff apart from doctors, dentists and senior managers, have been offered rises of 3.6%. A series of announcements on Thursday confirmed:
The education department has announced an additional £615m to cover the rises, but said schools would be asked to partially fund the awards through "improved productivity and smarter spending". a 4% headline award for doctors, dentists, and teachers in England, as well as prison officers in England and Wales
a 3.6% rise for NHS staff in England on Agenda for Change contracts, including nurses and midwives
a 3.25% rise for civil servants, including senior civil servants
a 4.5% rise for members of the UK armed forces, with 3.75% for senior military staff.
Inflation unexpectedly rose to 3.5% in the year to April, complicating perceptions of how generous the offers are.
The PCS union, which represents civil servants below the senior ranks, contrasted the latest figure with their proposed 3.25% offer.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the pay award for nurses as "above inflation", although the RCN insisted it would be "entirely swallowed up" by price rises.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies, a think tank, said the 4% offer for teachers was "likely to represent small real-terms rise," given official economic forecasters were predicting 3.2% inflation for this financial year.
Funding concerns
The rises come after ministers accepted proposals from a series of pay review bodies, which are tasked with recommending pay awards for around 45% of people working in the public sector.
The education department has announced an additional £615m to cover the rises above the 2.8% previously set aside by the Treasury.
But it said schools would be asked to partially fund the awards through "improved productivity and smarter spending".
The National Education Union, which represents teachers, said the award was "not fully funded" and it could lead to "cuts in service provision" for many schools.The National Education Union, which represents teachers, said the award was "not fully funded" and it could lead to "cuts in service provision" for many schools.
The health department said cuts to "frontline services" would not be necessary, arguing the money could be found through cutting the use of temporary staff, cutting "duplication and waste", and its plan to abolish NHS England. The health department insisted it would be able to avoid cuts to "frontline services" when finding extra cash for the rises.
Recommended awards of 3.25% for senior NHS managers and senior civil servants have also been accepted by ministers. Members of the armed forces have been offered 4.5%. It cited reduced use of temporary staff, cutting "duplication and waste", and its plan to abolish NHS England as areas where money could be found.
Inflation questions
Inflation - the rate prices are increasing - has fallen in recent months, but unexpectedly rose to 3.5% in the year to April, potentially complicating how ministers sell the deals to workers.
The Bank of England has previously said it expects inflation to peak at 3.7% between July and September this year, before slowly falling.
Labour ended long-running public sector strikes last summer by accepting recommended pay rises between 4.75% and 6% for last year.Labour ended long-running public sector strikes last summer by accepting recommended pay rises between 4.75% and 6% for last year.
Ministers argued the move was required to stop damage to the economy - but it led to Conservative accusations they had lost control of public sector pay.Ministers argued the move was required to stop damage to the economy - but it led to Conservative accusations they had lost control of public sector pay.