Unions have reacted with anger to below inflation pay rises for health and other public sector workers.
Unions have reacted with anger to below inflation pay rises for health and other public sector workers.
Chancellor Gordon Brown told MPs he had accepted recommendations from the pay review body that awards be kept within the government's 2% inflation target.
Chancellor Gordon Brown told MPs he had accepted recommendations from the pay review body that awards be kept within the government's 2% inflation target.
Nurses and other health workers will get a 2% rise. The armed forces will get 3.3% and consultants 1.3%.
Nurses and other health workers will get a 2% rise. The armed forces will get 3.3% and consultants 1.3%.
There are two measures of inflation. The one favoured now by government is 2.7%. The old RPI measure is 4.2%.
The CPI inflation measure targeted by the government is 2.7%. The old Retail Price Index currently stands at 4.2%.
Before the detailed figures were released, Mr Brown told MPs in the Commons: "The overall awards come within the inflation target at 1.9% demonstrating our total determination to maintain discipline and stability and continue with an 11th year of sustained economic growth."
The government has made sure that key front line workers are fairly rewarded Treasury
The government has made sure that key front line workers are fairly rewarded Treasury
The Transport and General Workers Union said the Whitehall pay rises were a "slap in the face" for public sector workers.
The Transport and General Workers Union said the Whitehall pay rises were a "slap in the face" for public sector workers.
The Treasury said the increases were the lowest over the past 10 years, and that by staging the awards - in April and in November - it was saving over £200m per year, it said.
The increases are the lowest over the past 10 years, and by staging the awards - in April and in November - the Treasury is saving an estimated £200m.
Announcing that the armed forces were to receive the highest award of 3.3%, the Treasury said: "The government has made sure that key front line workers are fairly rewarded."
Nurses will get 1.5% in April and 1% in November, which works out at about 2% over the year - but the Treasury said nurses were getting an overall increase of 4.4% once annual progression increases were included.
The Treasury claimed "the headline award for nurses 2.5% (1.5% in April and a further 1% in November) when combined with annual progression increases, means that nurse will receive an increase of 4.4% over the coming year with an increase of 4% from April".
Recruitment
Recruitment
The Treasury said other increases are: Junior doctors 3%; dentists 2%; senior military 2%; senior civil service 1.4%; the judiciary 2.4%; prison officers in England and Wales 2.5% and prison officers in Northern Ireland 2%.
Other increases announced include: Junior doctors 3%; dentists 2%; senior military 2%; senior civil service 1.4%; the judiciary 2.4%; prison officers in England and Wales 2.5% and prison officers in Northern Ireland 2%.
Mr Brown had told MP: "The overall awards come within the inflation target at 1.9% demonstrating our total determination to maintain discipline and stability and continue with an 11th year of sustained economic growth."
'Pay cut'
TGWU national officer Peter Allensen said: "With the Retail Price Index at over 4% and the real cost of living higher than that, to limit pay rises to below 2% amounts to a slap in the face for public sector workers.
TGWU national officer Peter Allensen said: "With the Retail Price Index at over 4% and the real cost of living higher than that, to limit pay rises to below 2% amounts to a slap in the face for public sector workers.
"Our members are being hit by a double whammy of below real inflation pay rises plus an increasing workload as the change agenda is rushed through with job cuts, increased pressure, poor consultation and falling morale.
"Our members are being hit by a double whammy of below real inflation pay rises plus an increasing workload as the change agenda is rushed through with job cuts, increased pressure, poor consultation and falling morale.
"Increasing productivity seems to count for nothing judging by this announcement."
"Increasing productivity seems to count for nothing judging by this announcement."
A recent poll commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing suggested nearly two-thirds of nurses would be willing to take industrial action if they receive an unsatisfactory pay deal this year.
A recent poll commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing suggested nearly two-thirds of nurses would be willing to take industrial action if they receive an unsatisfactory pay deal this year.
Commenting on the survey last week, RCN General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: "Ministers should be under no illusions - though industrial action is never a course of action we would take lightly, the RCN is not in the business of accepting a pay cut for our members."
Commenting on the survey last week, RCN General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: "Ministers should be under no illusions - though industrial action is never a course of action we would take lightly, the RCN is not in the business of accepting a pay cut for our members."
Teachers, local government workers, firefighters and the police are not covered by these awards.
Teachers, local government workers, firefighters and the police are not covered by these awards.
Are you a public sector worker or a member of the armed forces? What is your reaction to the pay rises you will be getting?
Are you a public sector worker or a member of the armed forces? What is your reaction to the pay rises you will be getting?
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