England's Teachers and Doctors Awarded 4% Pay Rise, Igniting Further Industrial

Action Threats Amidst Funding Debates
London, England – In a move aimed at addressing ongoing concerns over public sector remuneration, the UK government has announced a 4% pay rise for most teachers and doctors in England, effective from April 1, 2025. This decision follows recommendations from independent pay review bodies and comes amidst a backdrop of persistent industrial action threats and a heated debate over the funding of public services. While the government asserts the increase is "above inflation," unions representing both professions have swiftly decried the offer as "woefully inadequate," hinting at further strikes.
The 4% increase for teachers and doctors is a headline figure. For NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts, which include nurses, midwives, and physiotherapists, a slightly lower 3.6% pay uplift has been announced. Junior doctors, now referred to as resident doctors, will receive an average increase of 5.4% due to an additional £750 top-up payment. Other public sector workers also saw varying increases, with armed forces personnel receiving a 4.5% rise, prison officers and managers getting 4%, and civil servants receiving 3.25%.
The government has emphasized that these increases are "above forecast inflation" for the 2025-26 pay year, citing April's inflation rate of 3.5% (up from 2.6% in March). Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that the government is delivering "real-terms pay rise" for nurses, doctors, and other NHS staff, underlining their value to the public. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson similarly affirmed the commitment to teachers, highlighting that teachers have seen an "increase in their pay of almost 10% since this government took power and over 22% over the last four years," with a competitive starting salary now approaching £33,000.
However, the unions representing these critical professions have expressed deep dissatisfaction. The British Medical Association (BMA) immediately labelled the 4% rise for doctors as "woefully inadequate," with Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the BMA council, stating that doctors' pay remains "around a quarter less than it was in real terms 16 years ago." The BMA has confirmed plans to ballot resident doctors next week for renewed strike action, indicating that the offer does not go far enough to restore historical pay erosion.
Similarly, the National Education Union (NEU), the largest teachers' union, has threatened to "register a dispute" with the government. Their primary contention revolves around the funding of the pay rise. While the education department has pledged an additional £615 million to help cover the costs, schools will be expected to fund the remaining quarter of the 4% increase through "improved productivity and smarter spending" from their existing budgets. The NEU argues that without full government funding, schools will face cuts elsewhere, impacting resources and potentially leading to further industrial action.
This situation echoes last year's pay negotiations, which saw extensive public sector strikes before the government accepted higher pay recommendations, ranging from 4.75% to 6%. This year's smaller percentage increases, coupled with the continued expectation for departments and schools to absorb a portion of the costs, sets the stage for renewed tensions.
The government maintains that pay awards must be affordable within agreed spending settlements, balancing budgetary pressures with the wider economic context. However, unions argue that years of real-terms pay cuts have made it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff in vital public services. As the threat of further industrial action looms, the 4% pay rise for teachers and doctors in England highlights the ongoing struggle to balance fiscal prudence with the demands of a workforce grappling with the rising cost of living and historical pay grievances.
Source@BBC