Cllr Osh Gantly, Islington Labour councillor for Highbury East, blogs about why all public sector workers deserve a pay increase.

The public sector is our greatest asset. From the NHS to police to firefighters to teaching assistants, they go above and beyond every day.

Yet public sector workers have suffered a pay squeeze and real-terms cut in their salary for the last seven years under the Tory Government. It is obscene that so many of them, who play such a vital role in our community, are struggling to make ends meet and relying on foodbanks.

The Tories have created a crisis in which public services are struggling to recruit and retain staff and morale is at an all-time low. This in turn fails the general public who rely on those vital services.

Earlier this week, the Government announced an end to the public sector pay cap. If only it were that simple. It has only extended an inadequate pay settlement to police officers and prison officers, with no details about pay settlements for other public sector workers.

All public sector workers are equally deserving of a real-terms pay increase, fully funded by Central Government. Cherry-picking services will not solve the problems facing the sector when frontline and backroom support staff rely on each other to work successfully.

I am pleased to be moving a motion at Full Council next week (21^st September), urging the Tories to grant all public sector workers a real-terms pay increase and lending support to the GMB Union’s campaign on this vital issue.

Islington Labour councillors are committed to creating a fairer borough for everyone. This cannot be achieved without a well-paid and motivated public sector to serve and protect them.

Pictured: Cllr Osh Gantly, Islington Labour councillor for Highbury East