TORIES MUST DELIVER ON PUBLIC SECTOR PAY

Patricia Gibson MP is calling on the UK Government to stop flip-flopping on public sector pay and endorse the SNP’s policy to end the pay cap.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay told the Scottish Parliament last week that the “time was up” for the annual 1% limit on public sector pay.

The SNP Government is now engaging with trade unions ahead of the next Scottish budget to discuss a future public sector pay policy that recognises both rising living costs and the need for sustainable public finances in order to ensure fairer pay for nurses, teachers and all public sector workers.

Patricia said:

“The SNP Government has listened to independent pay recommendations and believes nurses, doctors, police officers and other public sector workers deserve better pay that reflects real life circumstances.

“Indeed, showing public sector workers how much we value their service is ever more pertinent as we face endless Brexit uncertainty that is driving inflation, forcing up living costs and intensifying recruitment problems.

“And with some public sector workers in Scotland still subject to UK wide pay policies the Tories must confirm that the pay cap will be scrapped.

“The clear message coming from Scotland to the Tory government is to end austerity, and end it now.”

Exchange in Scottish Parliament can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11042