Rishi Sunak is preparing to make fresh concessions to end months of debilitating public sector strikes, as negotiations with teachers began and junior doctors agreed to formal talks.
With No 10 now keen to see all the disputes resolved in the coming weeks, talks between teaching unions and the Department for Education started on Friday and are expected to continue through the weekend. On Friday night the Department of Health and Social Care said the British Medical Association representing junior doctors has accepted an offer of pay talks.
But strikes by the University and College Union planned for next week will go ahead after the union’s higher education committee voted to continue with industrial action and declined to put proposals from employers to a vote by members.
The health secretary Steve Barclay’s pay offer to NHS unions on Thursday underlined that the government is now prepared to compromise after a months-long standoff in which ministers insisted there was no extra…
2023-03-17 15:31:24
Original from www.theguardian.com
The UK public sector has faced a series of strikes in recent weeks, with frustrated workers demanding better pay, conditions and support. As calls for action in the sector grow louder, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been working behind the scenes to find a solution to the impasse.
Sunak has taken a conciliatory approach to the strikes, recognizing that the demands of public sector workers are reasonable and justified. Moreover, he understands that the strike action poses a significant risk to the stability of key public services, and has committed to resolving the issues as quickly as possible.
One of the ways that Sunak is seeking to resolve the dispute is through a series of targeted compromises. He has already agreed to review the pay scales of public sector workers, and indicated that he is willing to make adjustments to reflect the cost of living and the demands of the job.
In addition to looking at pay, Sunak is also examining ways to improve working conditions for public sector employees, particularly in areas such as education and healthcare. He has pledged to increase investment in these sectors, with a focus on improving training, resources and support for workers.
Despite these positive initiatives, there is still some skepticism that the government’s approach will be enough to resolve the ongoing strike action. Many public sector workers feel that the concessions being proposed do not go far enough, and are calling for a more comprehensive solution that addresses wider systemic issues.
Nonetheless, Sunak’s commitment to finding a resolution is encouraging, and suggests that progress is being made towards a deal. As negotiations continue, it is hoped that a meaningful and lasting agreement can be reached that satisfies both the needs of workers, and the requirements of government policy.