Warning comes as NEW analysis shows that public sector
pay is lower in real terms than 20 years ago
1 in 4 public sector workers say they have struggled to
pay household bills over the last year
TUC calls on Chancellor to “act in the national interest”
and invest in public services and its workforce at Wednesday’s
Budget
Services will only get worse unless ministers deal with
staffing crisis, says TUC
Nearly two-fifths of public sector workers (38%) have already
taken steps to leave their profession to get a job in another
field, or are actively considering it, according to new TUC
polling published today (Tuesday).
The poll of more than 1,000 public sector workers – conducted by
Opinium – comes as the union body warns that public services are
facing a “mass exodus" of key workers unless the government
invests in public services and the workforce at the
Budget.
According to TUC analysis, around 2.2 million public sector
workers are seriously thinking about quitting their jobs for
good.
Pushed to the brink by years of falling pay
The TUC says the recruitment crisis plaguing public services has
been compounded by years of "brutal” real-terms pay cuts.
New TUC analysis shows that 2022 and 2023 was the worst two-year
period for public servant pay since records began – with average
salaries falling by 7% in real terms.
The union body estimates that median pay across the public realm
is now £42 per week (£2.2k a year) lower in real terms than in
2010 and is still worth less now than in 2004.
According to today’s poll:
- Over a quarter (27%) of public sector workers have struggled
to pay a household bill over the last year – a number that rises
to 1 in 3 (33%) for female staff.
- A fifth (22%) have taken on additional debt to cope with the
cost of living.
- 1 in 8 (13%) have gone without food.
- 1 in 10 (10%) have used a foodbank.
Acting in the national interest
The TUC says the Chancellor “must act in the national interest”
and invest in public services and the public sector workforce at
the forthcoming Budget.
The union body said strong public services are essential for
economic growth.
The TUC highlighted that without action to address the pressure
on frontline services, economic inactivity would continue to
grow.
Nearly three million people in the UK are currently economically
inactive due to long-term sickness.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“Years of underfunding and mismanagement have left our public
services and their workforce at breaking point.
“Every month experienced and dedicated public servants are
quitting in droves because they are burned out, feel downtrodden,
undervalued and are struggling to pay their bills.
“If the Chancellor does not invest in our public services the
staffing crisis will only get worse and communities across
Britain will continue to suffer.
“That means dealing with issues like pay and intolerable
workloads.
“The idea that the public sector can do more with less has been
tested to destruction over the last 14 years.
“The fastest way to get public sector productivity rising is to
pay people fairly and invest in the equipment and technology they
need to do their jobs.
“Strong public services are vital for growth and for the
well-being of the country. must act in the national
interest and provide the funding local services desperately
need.”
UNISON General Secretary, and chair of the TUC’s Public Services
Liaison Group, Christina McAnea said:
“The government has consistently starved public services of
resources. Most are now in a perilous state, with too few staff
to deliver a quality service.
“Across health, education, local government, police forces and
social care, workers feel guilty they can’t do more to help those
needing help and support because services are so stretched.
“Everything feels broken and no longer functioning as it should.
No wonder so many key workers are leaving their jobs.
“The public wants good, properly resourced, well-staffed
essential services. Yet more cuts will simply push services to
point of collapse.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Opinium polled 1,017 public sector workers between 29 February
and 4 March 2024. The poll was weighted according to gender, age,
sector and region.
- Public sector pay data: TUC analysis of ONS average weekly
earnings data:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/averageweeklyearningsearn01
