Public sector unions used increased cost of living figures published yesterday to threaten strike action over pay deals that were already below inflation.

In a further headache for the Government, the National Union of Teachers and the Public and Commercial Services Union, among those already balloting on possible strike action over what they argue are, in effect, pay-cutting settlements, said last night that a consumer prices index of 5.2 per cent in September only bolsters their argument.

A spokesman for Unison, whose members include NHS staff and local government employees, said: “The latest increase in inflation strengthens the case to reopen the NHS pay deal for 2008-09. Local government workers are also looking for a fair deal as they take their case to arbitration. With each rise in inflation, our case for higher pay for both these vital groups of staff grows stronger.” The PCS, which will announce the result of its ballot on Friday, said that the new inflation figures “make it even more urgent that the Government reviews its public sector pay policy because as inflation rises you have got tens of thousands of hard-working people whose wages are being eaten into by the pay cap”. It said: “The Government urgently needs to review its policy or it is facing industrial unrest.”

Six unions representing 250,000 college lecturers and support staff in England, including cleaners and caterers, accepted a 3.2 per cent pay offer yesterday, saying that it was one of the best deals in the public sector. Barry Lovejoy, national officer of the University and College Union, added: “Our membership has accepted an offer which, although below the current rate of inflation, is one of the strongest in the public sector in this pay round.

“We shall be submitting an early claim for next year but will now focus hard on those colleges who have disgracefully failed to pay up on a national deal agreed five years ago.”

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