Payrise in public sector jobs?

[Mr Blob]

We have had a pay freeze in State funded employment since the Tories came to power in 2010.

My trade union the GMB is asking the council for a pay increase next year for its public sector members

Is it time for an increase in the pay packet? will we get it from people in control at the workplace?

our rent keeps rising, energy bills are sky high and essentials like food so expensive compared to four years ago. Yet the income every month from working for our employers has stayed the same

 

[tommers]

Ha. Good luck. We've got a pay cut coming this year.

 

[mayotte]

It seems to me that the Govt have whipped up an anti public service fervour through the media that now has certain elements of the private sector feeling justified in accusing us of being nothing but high living, skiving parasites.

 

[weepiper]

Scottish councils are offering a 1% rise this years after a two-year freeze

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20439702

 

[marty21]

they are trying to get us to sign new contracts - one hour a week more for no extra pay - they'll give us a grand to sign it - no pay rise expected though

 

[quimcunx]

jam today for gruel tomorrow.

 

[Manter]

I think it's a tough one, as the private sector isn't giving out payrises in most cases.... If there are pay increases in the public sector, the government will be attacked by the media, business and the mythical 'squeezed middle' who are all facing the same income/expenditure pressures, and will see it at their taxes being used to give public sector workers a cushion they themselves don't have.



Omigod I just defended condem policy. I am off to wash my brain with bleach

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Certainly there aren't many pay rises in the private sector either, which explains why there's been such a deliberate split caused between private and public in the media, with public sector workers being stereotyped as having cushy pay deals and unions which insulate them from "reality", to reduce general sympathy amongst the bitter and selfish.

Even if I were to be completely selfish about it, other workers getting pay deals helps me regardless of whether they are public or private, but that's just the logic talking.

 

[Maurice Picarda]

It's often suggested that public sector workers get pay rises by the back door in that they are automatically moved up a grade annually, even if the pay which applies to the grade itself is frozen. Was this ever true? Is it true now?

 

[wiskey]

It's often suggested that public sector workers get pay rises by the back door in that they are automatically moved up a grade annually, even if the pay which applies to the grade itself is frozen. Was this ever true? Is it true now?

That's not true where I work (NHS) - I have had neither promotion nor payrise in 8 years Agenda For Change was supposed to provide a framework for us to move up but when we changed onto it we were put at the top of a band and there is nowhere to go.

 

[Mr Blob]

It's often suggested that public sector workers get pay rises by the back door in that they are automatically moved up a grade annually, even if the pay which applies to the grade itself is frozen. Was this ever true? Is it true now?

that's only in the first four years into the job

I think it's a tough one, as the private sector isn't giving out payrises in most cases....

depends on the company. Even in this recession some firms are thriving hence granting good payrises

Scottish councils are offering a 1% rise this years after a two-year freeze

that's what I want. Dare not hope for more than 1% salary increase for myself. I'm feeling financially squeeze like bulk of working population, but one per cent rise across public sector jobs in UK would be a moral victory for trade unions and ordinary people

 

[Thora]

I go up one spinal point (but not a grade) automatically every April I think.

 

[mayotte]

It's often suggested that public sector workers get pay rises by the back door in that they are automatically moved up a grade annually, even if the pay which applies to the grade itself is frozen. Was this ever true? Is it true now?

Not true on my world Maurice.

 

[Mr Blob]

I go up one spinal point (but not a grade) automatically every April I think.

without limit? you mean even after twelve years still get a pay rise of one spinal point every April

 

[Thora]

without limit? you mean even after twelve years still get a pay rise of one spinal point

No, just within the pay band for your grade. You don't automatically move up a grade.

 

[FiFi]

It's often suggested that public sector workers get pay rises by the back door in that they are automatically moved up a grade annually, even if the pay which applies to the grade itself is frozen. Was this ever true? Is it true now?

If you're in the middle of a "band" yes it does happen.
There are, however, a finite numbers of levels in each band and then you come to a grinding halt unless you apply for a job on the next band (ie promotion). Then the whole merry cycle continues.
This was brought in to ensure that the majority of nurses (the largest staff group in the NHS) remain blocked at the top of Band 5 for the rest of their careers.


(yes I am a little cynical, but you'll have to excuse me. I've been in the public sector far too long! )

 

[marty21]

It's often suggested that public sector workers get pay rises by the back door in that they are automatically moved up a grade annually, even if the pay which applies to the grade itself is frozen. Was this ever true? Is it true now?

partly - there are increments between scales, but they aren't limitless, usually 3 so after 3 years in the same job, you won't get any more

 

[Maurice Picarda]

It's an interesting difference. The people who really lose out are private sector first jobbers who have been stuck on entry-level pay for the last three or four years.

 

[mayotte]

partly - there are increments between scales, but they aren't limitless, usually 3 so after 3 years in the same job, you won't get any more

Not in my area of work (nursing)

 

[Citizen66]

Private sector workers should be arguing that they aren't getting paid enough, not that public sector workers are being paid too much. It's classic divide and rule race to the bottom tactics.

 

[Fedayn]

I think it's a tough one, as the private sector isn't giving out payrises in most cases.... If there are pay increases in the public sector, the government will be attacked by the media, business and the mythical 'squeezed middle' who are all facing the same income/expenditure pressures, and will see it at their taxes being used to give public sector workers a cushion they themselves don't have.



Omigod I just defended condem policy. I am off to wash my brain with bleach

Payrise? People in my work, DWP, have had a pay freeze for 5 years. This year it's a 1% 'pay rise' ie below inflation, so, in real terms, a 6 year pay cut....

 

[Fedayn]

It's often suggested that public sector workers get pay rises by the back door in that they are automatically moved up a grade annually, even if the pay which applies to the grade itself is frozen. Was this ever true? Is it true now?

Many years ago in the DWP this was true-ish. You were supposed to reach the top spine of your grade after 5 years. I started in my job 10 years ago, I am still no-where near the top of my spine points.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

It's an interesting difference. The people who really lose out are private sector first jobbers who have been stuck on entry-level pay for the last three or four years.

Or those who are now looking for new jobs, the pay scales and benefits of which have all been re-evaluated based on the current economic climate.

 

[FiFi]

It's an interesting difference. The people who really lose out are private sector first jobbers who have been stuck on entry-level pay for the last three or four years.

In Nursing, once registered you start on Band 5 which has 8 levels.If you apply for a promotion to Band 6 there are 9 levels.
This means that without a promotion a Nurse is potentially stuck on the same pay level after 8years.

The payscales are all in the public domain-just google "Agenda for Change"

 

[marty21]

Or those who are now looking for new jobs, the pay scales and benefits of which have all been re-evaluated based on the current economic climate.

they want to get rid of the increments at my place (local govt) and increase our hours -

 

[Mapped]

I was working in the 'GLA Family' when Boris got elected trailblazing these policies, so my pay hasn't increased since 2008. When I moved to my current employer in 2010 they agreed to match my current salary, as it was mid-band for my grade and there's been a pay freeze ever since. I've had a couple of £200 performance bonuses, but my basic pay is the same as 2008.

The money thing is giving me itchy feet a bit, but I like my job and there's good prospects for the future, so I'm sticking with it for now.

 

[colacubes]

Until recently I was in a public sector org that merged with several others in 2007. I got a smallish pay increase to level up then as there was a pay disparity between the orgs. Since then I've not had a penny of a pay rise. I had (until I left on vol redundancy a couple of months or two ago) taken on more and more responsibility as my dept got shrunk from 12 to 3 people at the time I left (it's currently 2). So, very much a real terms pay loss over 5 years.

 

[tommers]

I work for a 'charity' who are funded by local govt. I have had as pay freeze for at least the past 4 yrs I think. Our contract was taken over by another 'charity' last July and the first thing they did was cut our pay by 10%, which comes in over the next year.

Obviously I am looking for a new job.

Oh, and new starters for my role begin on a salary about 30% less than mine.

 

[quimcunx]

In Nursing, once registered you start on Band 5 which has 8 levels.If you apply for a promotion to Band 6 there are 9 levels.
This means that without a promotion a Nurse is potentially stuck on the same pay level after 8years.

The payscales are all in the public domain-just google "Agenda for Change"

That's the same for most people who stay in the same job, unless there is only one level for their job, in which case it stays the same from dot.

Doesn't seem to be many people below board level whose salaries have kept up with inflation the last 5 years. Unless they've been promoted which doesn't count, obvs.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

The public sector pay freeze was already in place during the last so called Labour government.