The average cost of workers leaving the public sector in England rose last year, despite Covid-19 reducing the number of redundancies, according to data compiled by local authorities.
Trade unions are likely to recommend their members reject the final pay offer for local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which one official has labelled as “scandalous”.
Two experts face off over proposed changes to transitional arrangements relating to the 2015 NHS, Teachers, Fire Service, Police, Civil Service and Armed Forces pension schemes.
A 10% pay rise for council staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is affordable and would benefit the government through savings on benefits and increased tax revenues, unions have said.
Earnings have grown faster in Scotland than in the rest of the UK over the past year, raising hopes that the Scottish economy could be boosted by higher than anticipated income tax revenues.
Council leaders have defended council executive pay after a campaign group’s research found the average local authority in the UK had six employees on salaries above £100,000 in 2017-18.
Redundancy packages for senior public sector workers are likely to be capped at £95,000, as the government seeks to implement the policy passed into law in the 2016 Enterprise Act.
