Teachers and nurses ‘ready to quit’ over delays to pay rises, union leaders warn
Union leaders have warned newly appointed cabinet ministers that many teachers and nurses will quit their professions in the coming weeks if public sector pay deals are further delayed by chaos at the top of government.
The decision on Thursday by Boris Johnson to step down as prime minister – and a series of changes to his cabinet — have left public sector workers increasingly fearful that long-overdue pay rises will be pushed back to the autumn.
Even before the implosion of the Johnson government last week, unions were already on collision course with it over the extent of any pay increases – and were warning of possible strike action if their demands were not met.
Teachers, NHS workers and others in the public sector have been demanding increases of at least the rate of inflation – currently 9.1% – while ministers had been insisting that pay restraint was necessary because the Treasury needs to limit spending and curb inflation.
Now, however, there is anxiety that the already delayed pay process, including consultations with unions, will be delayed further, meaning many workers will quit in frustration. The impasse over pay – and threats of strikes – will be one of the most pressing issues facing the government as the Conservative party prepares to select a new leader and prime minister.
On Saturday the country’s biggest union, Unison, said it had written to the new health secretary, Stephen Barclay, demanding to see the as yet unpublished recommendations of the NHS pay review body. It also reiterated warnings about possible industrial action unless progress was made quickly.
Unison’s head of health, Sara Gorton, said: “The government’s leadership vacuum is no excuse for further delay on putting NHS pay right. The
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