Public sector pay – political dynamite?

Last week’s hopeful news on unemployment overshadowed some interesting facts from the Office of National Statistics on pay. Over the last year public sector total weekly pay rose by 3.8% compared with a year ago but in the private sector it fell by 0.1%. On the same day local authorities proposed a 0% pay rise for their employees.

This issue (plus public sector pensions with imminent local authority fund valuations) may well see some industrial unrest and political debate in forthcoming months.