Cynical pay ploy will damage trust between ministers and workers, says TUC

21 Jul 2020 03:25 PM

The TUC has accused the Treasury of a ‘cynical ploy’ after details of a letter from the Chancellor to government departments became public yesterday (Tuesday) that reveal plans for future years of public sector pay restraint.

The fresh information follows a press statement this morning by the Treasury announcing above inflation pay rises for a single year. But it made no mention of the plans for future years of pay restraint. And it covered fewer than one in five public sector workers.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady yesterday said:

“It's hard to see how public sector workers can trust ministers after this cynical ploy to disguise plans for more pay restraint.

“In the last decade, we learned the hard way that austerity and pay restraint slow down recovery. People have less to spend. Businesses have fewer customers. And it holds back growth. 

“If ministers take this failed approach again, the living standards of both public and private sector workers will take a hit. And the key workers who saw us through the pandemic will be denied the pay rises they have earned. That’s no way to thank key workers.

“The prime minister promised no austerity after the pandemic. We need a recovery plan based on decent jobs with fair pay.”

Notes to Editors: