HUNDREDS of thousands of public-sector workers in Wales will be given above-inflation pay awards, First Minister Eluned Morgan has announced.
NHS staff, teachers and public-sector workers in many devolved services will receive pay rises of between 5 and 6 per cent in 2024-25, after the Welsh government accepted recommendations from independent pay review bodies.
Teachers will receive a 5.5 per cent pay award along with NHS staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
Doctors and dentists, including GPs, will receive a 6 per cent pay award, with an additional £1,000 for junior doctors.
The Welsh government has also agreed up to an average 5 per cent pay award for civil servants and staff at several other public bodies, including Natural Resources Wales and the Development Bank of Wales.
TUC Cymru general secretary Shavanah Taj said that the announcement is “strongly welcomed,” adding: “Public-sector workers are at the heart of public services like our NHS and schools, and it is absolutely right that they are fairly rewarded for all that they do.
“It is now for the trade unions that represent public-sector workers to take these offers to their members, who will determine if they are acceptable.”
GMB senior organiser Tom Hoyles said: “The only way to get our economy growing is to put money in working people’s pockets.
“It’s important to us that both Labour governments continue to make that a priority.
“We’ll now put the deal to our members, who will have the final say.”
BMA Welsh junior doctors committee co-chairs Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey said the pay award was “another step in the right direction to better valuing doctors and restoring our pay.”
They said: “Whilst we will continue to fight for full pay restoration to recover the years of real-terms pay cuts, today’s award does provide some further reversal of that erosion.”
National Association of Head Teachers Cymru national secretary Laura Dowel said it was vital the pay award was fully funded for all schools.
“This is absolutely crucial at a time when so many school leaders are already suffering sleepless nights, with some facing the completely unpalatable prospect of making valued staff redundant,” she said.
