The government has set out pay awards for over one million public sector workers in line with its policy of an average 1% pay rise in 2016-17. Employee groups covered by pay review bodies include NHS workers, prison staff and the armed forces. Chief secretary to the Treasury, Greg Hands, describes the review bodies’ recommendations as ‘balanced and affordable’, adding that the government has accepted in full recommendations for the armed forces, NHS staff and doctors and dentists. Prison service staff receive slightly higher average increases of 1.36% than other groups in what is described as an ‘exceptional award’ in view of the particular circumstances relating to prison reform this year.
Responding to the 1% average rises, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said:
‘Employers in the NHS will welcome the acceptance by the government of the clear recommendations of the NHS pay review bodies. At the same time, they recognise that the continued restraint of pay increases across the public sector is of concern to their staff and also restricts the ability to agree reform of non-medical contracts with staff representatives.’
Commenting on the announcement from the NHS pay review body of its proposals on pay for 2016/17, Unison head of health Christina McAnea said:
‘It’s disappointing for NHS workers that the pay review body has stuck to the artificial 1% pay freeze imposed by the Chancellor.’
For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/government/news/pay-awards-for-over-a-million-public-sector-workers