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 will get a 1.9% rise, while GPs will get no increase. The armed forces will get 3.3% and consultants 1.3%.
The CPI inflation measure targeted by the government is 2.7%. The old Retail Price Index currently stands at 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."
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
It is a real let down for Britain's nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better Karen JenningsUnison
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 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.
The increases are the lowest over the past 10 years, and by staging the recommended pay awards - in April and in November - the Treasury is saving an estimated £200m.
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.
Nurses will get 1.5% in April and 1% in November, which works out at about 1.9% over the year - but Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said nurses would get an overall increase of 4.4% once annual progression increases were included.
Recruitment
'Pay cut'
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%.
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%.
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.
The staging of increases, as well as the level, has concerned various unions, who have said they will consult their members on the offer.
"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.
Unison, the UK's largest health union, said the rise amounted to "nothing more than a pay cut" as the retail price index was at 4.2%
"Increasing productivity seems to count for nothing judging by this announcement."
Its head of health, Karen Jennings, said: "We believe that 2.5% is low enough without reducing its value even further by paying it in two stages.
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.
"That means it is worth a paltry 1.9%, and it is a real let down for Britain's nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better."
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."
'Deeply disgusted'
Teachers, local government workers, firefighters and the police are not covered by these awards.
The Royal College of Midwives' warned that midwives would be "angry and upset" about the rise.
Spokesman Jon Skewes said: "Midwives carry out vital work and treating their dedication in this derisory way is frankly disgusting. We will consult our members but the college is deeply disappointed."
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Cutting real pay runs the risk of starting the same spiral of boom and bust in public sector pay that hindered previous governments.
"If pay is feeding into inflation, the chancellor should look to City bonuses and top boardrooms for the culprits."
Amicus said: "We congratulate the work the pay review body has done but we are unhappy that the Treasury have imposed a staged pay deal, which makes a mockery of the review body's independence."
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?
Send us your thoughts by filling in the form below.
Send us your thoughts by filling in the form below.
