Nurses and teachers fearing new pay squeeze due to high UK inflation rate

Teachers and nurses leaders fear the Government could use stubbornly high inflation figures to offer lower than expected pay deals, prompting fresh warnings of coordinated strike action.

Official stats on Wednesday showed inflation was stuck at 8.7 per cent, leading to concerns that higher prices were now firmly embedded in the UK economy.

Ministers have repeatedly insisted that offering higher salaries to the public sector will further fuel inflation, making it harder to bring the cost of living crisis under control.

The Government is expected to publish wage increases for teachers and nurses next month, with reports claiming that schools could be in line for a 6.5 per cent pay rise.

Union leaders have raised concerns with i that the Government could point to inflation remaining well above the 2 per cent target as a reason to keep any pay offers lower.

Downing Street highlighted the issue when asked whether the higher than expected inflation figures could lead to the Government revising down any potential pay deals.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “Uncontrolled spending and wage growth can have long term effects when it comes to inflation. That has been a key issue for us and are points we’ve made to unions throughout.

“So I don’t think it’s a case of making a new stance now. It simply illustrates the challenge that we collectively are facing and indeed it is not unique to this country. And that’s why we are taking a responsible approach when it comes to negotiating.”

Heads’ and teachers’ leaders warned that any attempt by the Department for Education to offer anything less than what the independent pay award body has recommended would raise the likelihood of coordinated strike action in the autumn.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told i: “Whatever the final proposed pay deal is, it will be put to the membership for consideration. Given the emphasis that ministers have placed on the independence of the pay review body, if they were to offer something below what had been recommended, I cannot see that it will be accepted by the profession.”

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the National Education Union, which is staging two days of strikes next month, said the union “does have concerns” that the Government could use the inflation figures to offer smaller pay rises for next year.

“The Government does want to think carefully about this, if they want to avoid enraging an already incredibly disaffected profession further,” she added.

Nurses received a 5 per cent pay increase for this year as well as a one-off payment, which was rejected by the Royal College of Nurses. The union is currently balloting its members for fresh strike action, and it warned the Government against any attempt of using Wednesday’s inflation figures to keep pay offers down.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “When inflation acts like this, salaries are worth less and less and today is a reminder why we are keeping the pressure on the government over increasing nursing pay.

“Unions will not stand for the chancellor’s attempts to suppress wages because the government is failing to get a grip on inflation.”