We need a high-wage economy not real terms cuts for workers who carried heavy burden during pandemic
GMB, the union for keyworkers, has responded to this morning’s inflation figures.
According to the ONS, the twelve month RPI inflation rate rose from 1.5 per cent to 2.9 percent between March and April, while the CPI rate more than doubled from 0.7 per cent to 1.5 per cent.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said:
"The cost of living is now rising at pace again, yet Ministers are pressing ahead with their cruel pay freeze policy for millions of public sector workers.
This is very disappointing.
— GMB Union (@GMB_union) May 14, 2021
The offer doesn’t meet the pay claim we set out for – which was a substantial increase.
Our members in local government in schools, who have kept the country going throughout this pandemic, deserve better.#PayJusticeNowhttps://t.co/HVSFHRjQVp
“If wages continue to fall behind inflation then recruitment and retention challenges will become unmanageable and the delivery of vital public services will be put at risk.
“We need a high-wage economy in which work is fairly paid, not more real terms cuts that fall hardest on some of the workers who have borne the heaviest burden during the pandemic.”
