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Government defends new pay deal Government defends new pay deal
(about 4 hours later)
The government says its below-inflation public sector pay rises are fair for staff and good for the economy.The government says its below-inflation public sector pay rises are fair for staff and good for the economy.
But the Treasury is preparing for a rough ride from angry unions, with some threatening industrial action.But the Treasury is preparing for a rough ride from angry unions, with some threatening industrial action.
Nurses were "angry, frustrated and let down" at the decision to bring in their increase in two stages, leaders said.Nurses were "angry, frustrated and let down" at the decision to bring in their increase in two stages, leaders said.
While nurses will get a 1.9% rise, GPs will get none at all. Some armed forces personnel will get 9.2%, but senior civil servants will receive just 1.4%.While nurses will get a 1.9% rise, GPs will get none at all. Some armed forces personnel will get 9.2%, but senior civil servants will receive just 1.4%.
'Fair settlement''Fair settlement'
Chief Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Timms told BBC Two's Newsnight the deal was "fair to staff as well as being right for the economy". Chief Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Timms said the deal was "fair to staff as well as being right for the economy".
He added: "I hope that when staff look at the details of this settlement and see what it actually means in terms of their pay next year they will recognise that it is a fair settlement." "I hope that when staff look at the details of this settlement and see what it actually means in terms of their pay next year they will recognise that it is a fair settlement," he told BBC Two's Newsnight.
But Kevin Coyne, of Amicus, said the union was very unhappy with the rises. But Kevin Coyne, of Amicus, said the union was unhappy with the rises and warned an industrial action ballot could follow.
He warned: "We will assess the mood of our members in regard to the staged payment and the overall figure, which may lead to an industrial action ballot."
PAY INCREASES GPs 0%Dentists 2%Junior doctors 3%Senior military 2%Senior civil service 1.4%Judiciary 2.4%Prison officers in England and Wales 2.5%PAY INCREASES GPs 0%Dentists 2%Junior doctors 3%Senior military 2%Senior civil service 1.4%Judiciary 2.4%Prison officers in England and Wales 2.5%
Chancellor Gordon Brown told MPs he had accepted the pay review body's recommendations that awards be kept within the government's 2% inflation target. Chancellor Gordon Brown told MPs he had accepted the pay review body's recommendations that awards are kept within the government's 2% inflation target.
The increases are the lowest over the past 10 years, and by bringing in the pay review bodies' recommendations in two stages - part in April and the rest in November - the Treasury is saving an estimated £200m. The increases are the lowest over the past 10 years, and by bringing in the pay review bodies' recommendations in two stages - part in April and the rest in November - the Treasury will save about £200m.
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. Nurses will get 1.5% in April and 1% in November, which works out at about 1.9% over the year.
She said: "We appreciate that nurses will be disappointed by the staging of their award." Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said she appreciated nurses would be "disappointed" by the staggered increases but said their rise would amount to 4.4% once annual progression increases were included.
It is a real let down for Britain's nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better Karen JenningsUnison class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5709&edition=1">Send us your experiences Other increases announced include: Junior doctors 3%; dentists 2%; senior military 2%; senior civil service 1.4%; 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%.
Unions have been angered by the staging of increases, as well as the level.Unions have been angered by the staging of increases, as well as the level.
The Transport and General Workers Union said the pay rises were a "slap in the face" for public sector workers. It is a real let down for Britain's nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better Karen JenningsUnison class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5709&edition=1">Send us your experiences
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% 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%.
'Deeply disappointed'
The Royal College of Nursing's general secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "This news will leave nurses feeling angry, frustrated and let down."The Royal College of Nursing's general secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "This news will leave nurses feeling angry, frustrated and let down."
If pay is feeding into inflation, the chancellor should look to City bonuses and top boardrooms for the culprits Brendan BarberTUC general secretary
The Royal College of Midwives warned midwives would also be angry.
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."
Defence secretary Des Browne said he was "delighted" to announce the armed forces will get the public sector's largest rise.Defence secretary Des Browne said he was "delighted" to announce the armed forces will get the public sector's largest rise.
The lowest-paid 13,000 will get an extra 9.2% - equivalent to £100 a month. Another 6,000 will get a rise of 6.2%, and senior officers will get 2%. The 13,000 lowest-paid will get an extra 9.2% - equivalent to £100 a month.
The remainder in the services will get a rise of 3.3% from April. Another 6,000 will get a rise of 6.2%, senior officers will get 2% and the rest, 3.3%.
But the rise was not enough for former infantry soldier Steve McLaughlin. But former infantry soldier Steve McLaughlin said it was not enough and soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan should earn as much as a fireman, paramedic or policeman.
"Professional soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan should be earning the same wages at least as a fireman, a paramedic or a policeman because their training is equal or greater to the training those other people receive," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"They've got frontline jobs as well, but believe you me - and I've done the job - you can't get more front line than patrolling down Basra and coming under enemy fire."