Inflation-busting pay rises for public sector workers ‘unaffordable’, says minister – By Sky News Staff (Sky News) / Nov 27, 2022
Transport Secretary Mark Harper argues there “simply isn’t the money” to fund such wage hikes given the current economic situation, while Labour says he should be “moving heaven and earth” to try and avoid winter walkouts.
Inflation-busting pay rises are “unaffordable”, cabinet minister Mark Harper has told Sky News in the face of strikes in the public sector.
The transport secretary said there “simply isn’t the money” to fund such wage hikes, even in line with rising prices, given the current economic situation and state of the public finances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
However, he hinted at progress in talks over the rail dispute.
His comments came as nurses are set to stage their first-ever UK-wide strike next month, unless they get a 19% rise.
