TUC chief Paul Nowak tells ministers to get serious on pay in 2025 | Global News Avenue

As general secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak is at the top of an organization representing 5.5 million workers.

He has been critical of what he calls the “chaos and decline” of the Conservative period.

But he now wants to see Labor’s promises of change at this year’s election “delivered” in 2025.

“Families want to feel better and see material improvements in their daily lives,” he said.

The first months of the new year are likely to be defined by further battles over public sector pay.

Some of his member unions have raised the possibility of renewed strike action unless the government is willing to cough up more cash.

Ministers have It is recommended to increase by 2.8% – Inflation next year is slightly higher than the current 2.6%.

Novak doesn’t think the figure is serious and not enough to attract much-needed workers to public services.

His message to ministers: “If you are serious about repairing and renewing our public services, you must be serious about public service pay.

“It is difficult to see how a 2.8% increase will solve the recruitment and retention crisis across the public sector, with 150,000 staff vacancies in the NHS alone.”

The government says it is committed to rebuilding public services, but pay must be fair to taxpayers and workers alike.

A government spokesman said: “Under our plan of reform, which will rebuild our public services, our focus is on ensuring every department of government is committed to addressing working people’s priorities.”

He asked the government to use the six-month spending review Currently in progress Develop long-term plans for funding public services.

In the near future, he hopes the government can beat the 2.8% figure.

The independent pay review body is likely to recommend a higher figure and the government has said it will consider their report.

But ministers also said any further increases must Along with the increase in productivity.

TUC leaders are scratching their heads as to how this will be measured in some public sector roles.

“No one quite knows what productivity means in a classroom, an NHS trust or a prison,” he said.

“We all want to deliver services more efficiently but we cannot do so at the expense of the pay and conditions of frontline staff.”

He rejected Tory claims that this year’s inflation-busting pay rise comes at the expense of pensioners losing winter fuel subsidies.

He believes the government should be able to raise wages while protecting pensioners.

“The union council is very clear that the decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance was a mistake.

“We absolutely want to see support – particularly for pensioners who are just above the (pension credit) threshold.”

Paul Nowak believes the focus on pay may be too “narrow” – working conditions also matter. He warmly welcomed the Government’s Employment Rights Bill.

As someone who has been on temporary contracts in the past, he welcomes any step towards more secure and less secure employment.

The bill was tabled within 100 days of Labor taking office, as promised.

But much of this will be covered by subsequent secondary legislation and is still subject to consultation.

Some employers are lobbying not only the Commerce Department but also the Treasury Department, hoping to have some of the measures reconsidered.

For example, they want ministers to extend the nine-month trial period for new staff, during which they will be more easily sacked.

The TUC leader said: “This would be a real mistake. The services the government provides are so important.”

“It’s no surprise that some parts of the business community have been vocal about the potential negative impact on business.

“It was these people who sounded the alarm about the introduction of a national minimum wage 25 years ago.”

He warned ministers: “It is important that the government stands its ground.”

But perhaps his clearest message to the government is its ambitious green agenda and its commitment in the Transformative Plan to meet 95% of energy needs by 2030 from “clean” sources such as renewables.

He agrees with the goal but remains concerned about the consequences and has no detailed plan for those currently working in the fossil fuel industry.

He told me: “All our unions support the transition to net zero… but we have to do it in a way that supports the most cutting-edge workers.

“It’s not enough to make passionate words about a ‘just transition’ – we need concrete plans for job security, income security – with entire towns and cities dependent on the oil and gas industry.

“Not all green jobs are good jobs.”

He drew a warning from recent history: “We’ve seen what happens when industrial transformation goes wrong – the closure of mines and the steel industry.

“Towns have been devastated for decades.”

Ministers insist a shift to green energy will attract more investment, support new skilled jobs and “re-industrialise” parts of the UK.

Paul Nowak has worked at the TUC for nearly a quarter of a century, serving as its deputy secretary-general from 2016 to early 2023.

He told me that, perhaps unsurprisingly, this Labor government has been much more involved than previous governments.

The TUC hopes to influence ministers, but it’s clear they don’t always see eye to eye.