New figures from GMB, the union for public sector workers, show almost 2.5 million children are being hit by the public sector pay cap.
Analysis of the latest ONS figures show an estimated 2.4 million children live in 1.4 million households where at least one adult works in the public sector as their main job.
The average full time public sector workers in the UK has lost out on £9,000 in wages since the pay cap was introduced in 2010 - and stands to lose a further £4,000 by 2020.
During a recent study of police staff by GMB, one member revealed their pay was so low they couldn’t afford to buy their children clothes.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary for Public Services, said:
If the Government needed something to bring home the reality of their cruel and unnecessary public sector pay pinch – this is it. Almost 2.4 million children are living under the cosh of constant real-terms pay cuts.Our cherished public sector workers are now under so financial much strain they are forced to visit foodbanks – never mind finding the cash to buy their children new clothes or take them on holiday.The fact that millions of kids are growing up in this way in one of the richest countries in the world is a badge of shame.Enough is enough – it’s time to give all our public sector workers the wage they deserve.
Dependent children affected by the public sector pay cap | |||
Region | Number of households | Number of children | |
North East | 63,873 | 101,964 | |
North West | 181,976 | 302,755 | |
Yorkshire and Humberside | 123,972 | 214,834 | |
East Midlands | 84,115 | 141,065 | |
West Midlands | 118,364 | 201,647 | |
East of England | 113,525 | 192,322 | |
London | 166,264 | 301,978 | |
South East | 173,840 | 310,218 | |
South West | 109,273 | 183,772 | |
Wales | 91,543 | 146,753 | |
Scotland | 115,988 | 181,542 | |
Northern Ireland | 47,974 | 88,037 | |
UK total | 1,390,707 | 2,366,887 | |
Households with dependent children (aged 0 to 19) in which an adult (aged 16 to 64) is employed as a public sector worker in their main job | |||
Source - ONS Labour Force Survey Household dataset, Jan to March 2017 | |||