public sector pay freeze ? : Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:31 am  

Reports this morning that there is to be a return to a public sector pay freeze.
This could get interesting.

Yes, there is/will be a huge hole in government finances and the debt will take some getting under control and yes, those working for local government have relatively safe jobs.

However, having had very little in term of pay increases for the last 10/12 years, is it right to put the brakes on again ?

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:35 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Reports this morning that there is to be a return to a public sector pay freeze.
This could get interesting.

Yes, there is/will be a huge hole in government finances and the debt will take some getting under control and yes, those working for local government have relatively safe jobs.

However, having had very little in term of pay increases for the last 10/12 years, is it right to put the brakes on again ?

Better for them to put the brakes on as opposed to making cuts to key services, but I fear they will do both.

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:49 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Better for them to put the brakes on as opposed to making cuts to key services, but I fear they will do both.

What I do find strange are some of the spending pledges that are coming out.
The £4 billion announced yesterday didn't seem like it should be a top priority but, someone at Tory HQ obviously felt the need to make a headline - maybe we're expecting that we will make some more enemies once we are outside the EU ?

At some point there will need to be a budget and a plan to better control the public purse but, at the moment it's spend, spend, spend, unless, of course, you work in the public sector.
Wonder if the pay freeze will apply to the NHS staff, who, were applauded every week but, now get kicked in the nuts (again)

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Fri Nov 20, 2020 12:06 pm  

I believe they intend to exclude the NHS staff from the pay freeze however, the public sector is one of the major employers in the North.

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Fri Nov 20, 2020 12:39 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Reports this morning that there is to be a return to a public sector pay freeze.
This could get interesting.

Yes, there is/will be a huge hole in government finances and the debt will take some getting under control and yes, those working for local government have relatively safe jobs.

However, having had very little in term of pay increases for the last 10/12 years, is it right to put the brakes on again ?

The NHS have had some very generous pay increases over the last few years under the agenda for change model. 23% incremental uplift on my band since November 2018.

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Sat Nov 21, 2020 12:50 am  

It wouldn't surprise me. Local government finances are dire, and there's likely to be a huge sell off of local authority assets in the next 12 months.
I thought nothing would surpass the impact of 2008 crash, but the next 18 months make that seem like a gentle bump in the road.

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:42 pm  

Jack Burton wrote:

It wouldn't surprise me. Local government finances are dire,

Largely because the Tories have slashed local government funding over the past ten years.

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Mon Nov 23, 2020 12:00 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Largely because the Tories have slashed local government funding over the past ten years.

Nothing tp do with the redicuous spending habits of some LA's, Hull CC are skint, but still have money for vanity projects.

Re: public sector pay freeze ? : Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:14 pm  

WestEndThinker wrote:

Nothing tp do with the redicuous spending habits of some LA's,

No it's very much to do with central government cuts at the same time as passing on more responsibilities to local authorities.
But if you're repeating easily disproven Conservative party talking points I guess it means at least someone in the party is doing their job right.