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Government defends new pay deal Unions threaten action over pay
(about 4 hours later)
The government says its below-inflation public sector pay rises are fair for staff and good for the economy. Unions are threatening industrial action over below-inflation pay rises for public sector workers.
But the Treasury is preparing for a rough ride from angry unions, with some threatening industrial action. Amicus says it is "assessing the mood" of members before deciding on a ballot. The Royal College of Nursing said its members feel "angry and let down".
Nurses were "angry, frustrated and let down" at the decision to bring in their increase in two stages, leaders said. The government says the deal is fair to staff and good for the economy.
While nurses will get a 1.9% rise, GPs will get none at all. Some armed forces personnel will get 9.2%, but senior civil servants will receive just 1.4%. Nurses will get a 1.9% rise but GPs will get none at all. Some armed forces personnel will get 9.2%, but senior civil servants will receive just 1.4%.
'Fair settlement' A 2.5% increase for health staff will be paid in two stages in April and November, while rises for servicemen and women will be paid "without delay".
Chief Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Timms said the deal was "fair to staff as well as being right for the economy". It is a real let down for Britain's nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better Karen JenningsUnison class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5709&edition=1">Send us your experiences
"I hope that when staff look at the details of this settlement and see what it actually means in terms of their pay next year they will recognise that it is a fair settlement," he told BBC Two's Newsnight. Unison, the UK's largest health union, said the rise amounted to "nothing more than a pay cut" as the retail price index was at 4.2%.
But Kevin Coyne, of Amicus, said the union was unhappy with the rises and warned an industrial action ballot could follow. The union's head of health, Karen Jennings, said: "We believe that 2.5% is low enough without reducing its value even further by paying it in two stages.
PAY INCREASES GPs 0%Dentists 2%Junior doctors 3%Senior military 2%Senior civil service 1.4%Judiciary 2.4%Prison officers in England and Wales 2.5% "That means it is worth a paltry 1.9%, and it is a real let down for Britain's nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better."
Chancellor Gordon Brown told MPs he had accepted the pay review body's recommendations that awards are kept within the government's 2% inflation target. She added: "We are all paying more for our household bills and this increase will be eaten up by inflation and leave many nurses struggling. We will be consulting widely with our members."
PAY INCREASES GPs 0%Dentists 2%Junior doctors 3%Senior military 2%Senior civil service 1.4%Judiciary 2.4%Prison officers in England and Wales 2.5%Prison officers in Northern Ireland 2%
On Thursday, Chancellor Gordon Brown told MPs he had accepted the public sector pay review body's recommendations that awards are kept within the government's 2% inflation target.
The increases are the lowest over the past 10 years, and by bringing in the pay review bodies' recommendations in two stages - part in April and the rest in November - the Treasury will save about £200m.The increases are the lowest over the past 10 years, and by bringing in the pay review bodies' recommendations in two stages - part in April and the rest in November - the Treasury will save about £200m.
Nurses will get 1.5% in April and 1% in November, which works out at about 1.9% over the year.Nurses will get 1.5% in April and 1% in November, which works out at about 1.9% over the year.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said she appreciated nurses would be "disappointed" by the staggered increases but said their rise would amount to 4.4% once annual progression increases were included.Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said she appreciated nurses would be "disappointed" by the staggered increases but said their rise would amount to 4.4% once annual progression increases were included.
Other increases announced include: Junior doctors 3%; dentists 2%; senior military 2%; senior civil service 1.4%; judiciary 2.4%; prison officers in England and Wales 2.5% and prison officers in Northern Ireland 2%. Chief Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Timms said the wider deal was "fair to staff as well as being right for the economy".
Unions have been angered by the staging of increases, as well as the level. "I hope that when staff look at the details of this settlement and see what it actually means in terms of their pay next year they will recognise that it is a fair settlement," he told BBC Two's Newsnight.
It is a real let down for Britain's nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better Karen JenningsUnison Send us your experiences
Unison, the UK's largest health union, said the rise amounted to "nothing more than a pay cut" as the retail price index was at 4.2%.
The Royal College of Nursing's general secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "This news will leave nurses feeling angry, frustrated and let down."
Defence secretary Des Browne said he was "delighted" to announce the armed forces will get the public sector's largest rise.Defence secretary Des Browne said he was "delighted" to announce the armed forces will get the public sector's largest rise.
The 13,000 lowest-paid will get an extra 9.2% - equivalent to £100 a month.The 13,000 lowest-paid will get an extra 9.2% - equivalent to £100 a month.
Another 6,000 will get a rise of 6.2%, senior officers will get 2% and the rest, 3.3%.Another 6,000 will get a rise of 6.2%, senior officers will get 2% and the rest, 3.3%.
But former infantry soldier Steve McLaughlin said it was not enough and soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan should earn as much as a fireman, paramedic or policeman.But former infantry soldier Steve McLaughlin said it was not enough and soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan should earn as much as a fireman, paramedic or policeman.