Scotland pledges 3% pay increase for public sector staff

The Scottish Government has today pledged a 3 percent pay rise for public sector workers.

Scotland's Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, has announced that public sector workers such as; nurses, firefighters and teachers earning less than £30,000 will receive a 3 percent pay rise and those earning more a 2 percent pay rise.

Last month Phillip Hammond announced that rather than a direct pay increase it would instead undertake a 'modernisation' of the agenda for chance pay system for healthcare staff in England.

Janet Davies, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

"The announcement today of a minimum 3% pay increase for all public sector staff in Scotland earning under £30,000 increases the pressure on the Westminster Government to close the pay gap for nursing staff in England in next year’s pay award.”

“The Chancellor has said that salary increases above the 1% cap for nursing staff in England will be dependent on 'improved productivity”.

"This pay award will make Scotland a more attractive place to pursue a nursing career -  our members in the rest of the UK will rightly be asking why the same terms can't apply to them".

In England, NHS Staff await the recommendations of the Independent Pay Review Body who will submit a report in March 2018.