[News] Public Sector Pay Rises

[Giraffe]

The Government have announced that millions of public sector workers in England and Wales, including teachers, police and junior doctors are to get pay rises between 5%-7%. Police and prison officers will receive 7%, while teachers and junior doctors will get a 6.5% and 6% rise respectively

Fair?

 

[rogersix]

life's not fair

 

[Jam The Man]

As a former member of Police staff for 23 years until 2022, most years there was no pay rise at all. Some years we had 1%,, a couple of years in the early 00s we got 2.5% and I think we had 2.75% spread out over 2 years a couple of years ago... so i'm chuffed to bits that my former colleagues (both officers and staff) will get a rise they more than deserve.
I'm now working in the private sector with colleagues who EXPECTED 10% this year and kicked off when they got 4% - they really haven't got a clue how good they've got it!

 

[beorhthelm]

All that hassle and lost pay... unions played a blinder for their members.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Seems about fair - what was the original offer?

Still none for the train bods

 

[Weststander]

As a former member of Police staff for 23 years until 2022, most years there was no pay rise at all. Some years we had 1%,, a couple of years in the early 00s we got 2.5% and I think we had 2.75% spread out over 2 years a couple of years ago... so i'm chuffed to bits that my former colleagues (both officers and staff) will get a rise they more than deserve.
I'm now working in the private sector with colleagues who EXPECTED 10% this year and kicked off when they got 4% - they really haven't got a clue how good they've got it!

Not to mention public sector pensions. My NHS nurse wife sees 31.38% paid into her pension scheme, net of tax relief she's contributing 8.56% of that. Teachers pension scheme arrangements are very similar.

A union leader on Nicky Campbell today was involved in a childish 'shouting over each battle' with a caller. The leader when challenged on this, stated that many in the private sector are accruing similar pension rights too. He was talking out of his arse.

 

[BNthree]

Given public sector pay rises have been so poor for years it is fair.

 

[drew]

They should abolish the IPSA recommending MPs pay rises and introduce a law that states that MPs salaries rise at the rate of the lowest public sector pay rises!

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Isn't the issue here that the money is coming out of existing budgets (oh and the laughable visa fees etc). So although public sector workers will get the payrise, there will be fewer of them, so they will have to work harder.

And in most instances that just isn't possible.

 

[KZNSeagull]

They should abolish the IPSA recommending MPs pay rises and introduce a law that states that MPs salaries rise at the rate of the lowest public sector pay rises!

I would rather they put MPs salaries at a level that would attract people who are reasonably competent.

 

[drew]

I would rather they put MPs salaries at a level that would attract people who are reasonably competent.

You hear this argument all the time, but what level is that? The PM is a multi millionaire, as are several Tory MPs and probably a few labour ones. They're not in it for the money, they want power and control. The salary is enough because they also get generous expenses which cover a lot that most of us have to pay out of our salary.

 

[The Clamp]

Any pay rise for ay sector is fairly meaningless unless there are also curbs on bonuses, huge corporate wages, tax loopholes, and government expenditure. All driving up inflation.

Windfall tax and meaningful fines for misconduct need to be imposed on corporations who continue to reap vast profits while others face food poverty and homelessness.

So until the super wealthy are subject to the same financial scrutiny as the rest of us, a pay rise is like throwing a quid to a beggar.
Yeah, it’ll help. For now. Sort of.

 

[sparkie]

What's a pay rise ? I think I had one 2 years ago but have forgotten what they are like.

 

[Heart and Soul]

Any pay rise for ay sector is fairly meaningless unless there are also curbs on bonuses, huge corporate wages, tax loopholes, and government expenditure. All driving up inflation.

Windfall tax and meaningful fines for misconduct need to be imposed on corporations who continue to reap vast profits while others face food poverty and homelessness.

So until the super wealthy are subject to the same financial scrutiny as the rest of us, a pay rise is like throwing a quid to a beggar.
Yeah, it’ll help. For now. Sort of.

This. What did Socrates say? "A false morale may delay the catastrophy, but it doesn't get any lesser by being delayed" or somehing like that.

 

[Commander]

You hear this argument all the time, but what level is that? The PM is a multi millionaire, as are several Tory MPs and probably a few labour ones. They're not in it for the money, they want power and control. The salary is enough because they also get generous expenses which cover a lot that most of us have to pay out of our salary.

I think the argument is that if we could affect the best and brightest in to politics then the old boys club millionaire bunch would be ousted by people with genuine drive and talent.

I’m not sure what the necessary level is, but there is absolutely no way I would be an MP for £200K. It’s an awful job. You could never, ever switch off, and you and your family would get hassled everywhere you go. Why would anyone with a brain in their head do that when they could do a private sector job on a lot more money, without any of the hassle?

 

[junior]

Hell yeah!

 

[The Clamp]

I think the argument is that if we could affect the best and brightest in to politics then the old boys club millionaire bunch would be ousted by people with genuine drive and talent.

I’m not sure what the necessary level is, but there is absolutely no way I would be an MP for £200K. It’s an awful job. You could never, ever switch off, and you and your family would get hassled everywhere you go. Why would anyone with a brain in their head do that when they could do a private sector job on a lot more money, without any of the hassle?

Quite.
Unfortunately, in contemporary times business’s desire the influence that being an ex-MP has.

Whereas in the not too distant past, politics desired the experience ex-business people had.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Social Services/Public Sector here.

Most of the people (read: everyone) that I work with would rather take a pay cut and have more staff available to share the - frankly catastrophic- workload with.

This will provide infinitely better quality of life to staff, and services, than any pay increase.

 

[The Clamp]

Social Services/Public Sector here.

Most of the people (read: everyone) that I work with would rather take a pay cut and have more staff available to share the - frankly catastrophic- workload with.

This will provide infinitely better quality of life to staff, and services, than any pay increase.

Be great to have both.

Thanks for your work. Tough sector.

 

[Heart and Soul]

I think the argument is that if we could affect the best and brightest in to politics then the old boys club millionaire bunch would be ousted by people with genuine drive and talent.

I’m not sure what the necessary level is, but there is absolutely no way I would be an MP for £200K. It’s an awful job. You could never, ever switch off, and you and your family would get hassled everywhere you go. Why would anyone with a brain in their head do that when they could do a private sector job on a lot more money, without any of the hassle?

Competing is difficult. Today the basic story is: work as an MP (relatively low pay), carry out some lobbying and rule changes, and then join the business you benefitted as MP (millions in your pocket). Better pay could stop some of those dynamics but what is really required is stronger regulations stopping you from benefitting a business as a politician and then joining that same business once you've done your political chores.