Public sector workers 'to get £2bn pay rise’ – affecting teachers, police & armed forces

The pay rise would affect two million public sector workers, and cost an estimated £2 billion, according to The Times. The workers affected by the pay rise is said to include police officers, soldiers, and teachers, and see them be given an above-inflation pay rise. According to the publication, The Treasury is set to unveil the news, which would be the biggest public sector pay rise in six years , on Monday – as one of Theresa May’s final acts as Prime Minister. Police officers will reportedly receive a 2.5 per cent pay rise across the board, while soldiers would see a 2.9 per cent increase.

The newspaper reports that teachers and other school staff could expect to see a 2.75 per cent increase.

Dentists and consultants are said to face see a 2.5 per cent rise, and senior civil servants two per cent.

It is thought that the pay rises will have to be funded from existing budgets – except for some extra funding for schools.

Public sector pay was frozen for two years back in 2010 – except for those earning less than £21,000 per year.

Rises were later capped at one per cent, below the rate of inflation, in 2013.

In June 2019, the 12-month inflation rate was 1.9 per cent, the Office for National Statistics said.

According to The Times, the rises do not apply to other public sector staff such as more junior civil servants and nurses, whose pay is dealt with separately.

Elsewhere this week, the government has announced plans to remedy the policy across all main public pension schemes.

It comes after a court ruling found that changes made to judges’ and firefighters’ pensions in 2015 to be discriminatory.

In a written statement, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Elizabeth Truss, said that as “transitional protection” was offered to members of all the main public service pension schemes, the remedy would apply to all of these retirement plans – including for those in the NHS, civil service, local government, and for teachers.

It will also apply to schemes for the police, armed forces, judiciary, and fire and rescue workers.

Today, Prime Minister Theresa May has launched a consultation calling for views on parental leave entitlements in order to ensure they better reflect modern society and allow for more equal sharing of childcare.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The experience of parenting has changed almost beyond recognition over the past 40 years, with fathers wanting to share caring responsibilities more equally from the outset.

“In introducing shared parental leave, we have taken significant steps to support parents to do this, but all too often it is still mothers, not fathers, who shoulder the burden of childcare. It is clear that we need to do more and that’s why today we have launched a consultation calling for views on how we can improve the current system.

“We also want to look at further specific support for parents who are already dealing with the unimaginable stress of their babies needing special neonatal care. Parents have more than enough on their plates without worrying about their parental leave running out and having to return to work before their precious newborn comes home.

“That’s not fair and it’s not right. So we’re also proposing a new Neonatal Leave and Pay entitlement to make this time a bit easier for parents whose babies need to spend a prolonged period in neonatal care.”