SNP SCRAPS PAY CAP FOR NURSES AND TEACHERS

Published date : 04 Jul 2017

JENNY GILRUTH MSP SAYS TORIES MUST DELIVER ON PUBLIC SECTOR PAY

Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife & Glenrothes, 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 Scottish 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 in Scotland.

Commenting, Jenny Gilruth MSP said: “The Scottish Government has listened to independent pay recommendations – showing the many nurses, doctors and police officers and thousands more public sector workers in Fife that their incredible service is valued and that they deserve pay that reflects real life circumstances.

“Indeed, showing public sector workers in my constituency 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 – risking a Brexit brain drain.

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

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

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The exchange in the Scottish Parliament can be found at:

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11042

Local Reporters, HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE, EDUCATION