Karin Smyth MP denounced the Government’s decision to slash pay for our NHS workers and key workers in Bristol South
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, has denounced the Chancellors decision to slash the pay of our NHS workers and key workers following new analysis by Labour showing that public sector workers have been hit hard by this Budget.
Figures show that at least 12,500 public sector workers in Bristol South will be hit by the Chancellor’s decision to implement a real-terms pay cut this year. This includes nurses, teachers, police officers and Armed Forces personnel on the front line of the battle against Covid-19.
On Thursday the Government revealed that they intend to cut the pay of all NHS staff relative to inflation this year. This is in spite of the fact that in 2020 Conservative MPs budgeted and voted for a 2.1% pay increase and this is written in law.
This comes after the Chancellor announced a ‘pay freeze’ for all other public sector workers earning above £24,000 in 2021-22. Those earning less than £24,000 were promised “a fixed increase of £250”.
Taking into account inflation over the next fiscal year, that means every non-NHS public sector worker earning over £18,000 will also get a real-terms pay cut.
In Bristol South, this means 1,024 teachers will see their pay cut, as well as 9,576 police officers in the South West region. Moreover, over 90% of the 37,100 Armed Forces personnel in the South West region will also see a pay cut.
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, said:
“Our key workers in South Bristol have given us more than we could ever imagine during this pandemic. Many have even given their health and lives to keep us safe. For the Chancellor to turn around and implement a real-terms cut to their wages is disgraceful.
“As someone who used to work in our healthcare system, I have seen first-hand the dedication and determination our NHS workers have. They don’t clock off when they have had enough, they work tirelessly to make sure that we are safe and cared for. Instead of getting the recognition they deserve for their service to the country they have been given a real-terms pay cut. This flies in the face of all promises made by the Government previously.
“But this slashing of wages goes much further than just our NHS. It stretches far and wide throughout our public sector. From our local Bobby on the beat to our Armed Forces personnel and teachers we are seeing cuts. The Chancellor told us he would be honest during his Budget speech, however he tried to cover up these figures. If we are to see the public sector provide the service we all need, then we must ensure we deliver on our promises to our key workers and pay them a decent day’s pay.”