Government recommends 3.5% pay rise for nurses and other workers

The government has recommended offering millions of public sector workers below inflation pay increases.

Judges, police officers, teachers, nurses doctors and dentists in England will be offered a 3.5% pay increase under proposals.

The recommendations will now be considered by independent pay review bodies.

Public sector workers are holding strike action after rejecting last year's pay deal.

Various government departments published their evidence to pay review bodies for the 2023-24 financial year, starting in April.

The Treasury says anything above 5% would risk fuelling inflation. But it says 3.5% is affordable.

The independent pay review bodies are likely to recommend more and the government has repeatedly put great store on accepting their recommendations, says BBC Political Editor Chris Mason.

Inflation is also expected to fall.

The GMB union called the pay offer a "disgrace" which will not prevent ongoing ambulance strikes.

The proposal "shows this government's true colours", Rachel Harrison, GMB's national secretary, said.

"Ambulance workers - and others across the NHS including cleaners, porters and care workers- who are the backbone of the health service deserve better.

"Ministers have no intentions of recognising the true value of the entire workforce."

The Royal College of Nursing has called off next week's 48-hour strike in England to re-start talks with the government following the new pay recommendations.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has written to the National Education Union urging it to call off teachers strikes next week across the North of England if it wants to negotiate pay.

NEU joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney said there was "nothing substantial" in the education secretary's letter and the strikes would go ahead.

But he added: "Our national executive meets on Saturday, they could change that decision.

"There is time for the [Department for Education] to make clear that they will talk about pay rises for this school year and would fund those potential pay rises.

"There is time for them to tell us they are willing to move beyond a 3% pay rise for next September and to fund such pay rises".

Latest figures show for inflation was 10.1% in January, down from 10.5% in December 2022.

Sara Gorton, head of health at the union Unison, said: "If the government was actively trying to worsen the crisis in the NHS, it couldn't have done better than this.

"Vacancies are at an all-time high and this pitiful pay suggestion does nothing to solve the growing staffing emergency."