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Ministers say teachers and nurses should get pay rises above inflation

Ministers say teachers and nurses should get pay rises above inflation

Millions of public sector workers, including teachers and nurses, are set to receive above-inflation pay rises, ministers have been told, a move that will put pressure on government finances and could lead to conflict with unions.

According to The Times, independent pay review bodies representing 514,000 teachers and 1.36 million NHS workers have both recommended pay rises of around 5.5 percent.

The wage increases are significantly higher than the 3 percent the government had budgeted for and pose a major headache ahead of Rachel Reeves’ first budget.

The recommendations will be a headache for Rachel Reeves, the finance minister

The recommendations will be a headache for Rachel Reeves, the finance minister

IMAGE PLOTTER/ALAMY

Economists said she would need an extra £3.5bn just to fund pay cuts for teachers and nurses, making tax rises, spending cuts or more borrowing more likely.

It also raises the possibility