Civil servants in England to strike as unions call pay offer ‘insulting’

Government announces pay rise of between 4.5% and 5%, prompting warning of new wave of industrial action

Civil service unions in England have warned of a fresh wave of industrial action, after the government announced that pay rises would be limited to 4.5% to 5%, in a move dismissed by union leaders as “insulting”.

The two sides have been involved in talks in recent weeks, but it is understood the increase was presented to them as non-negotiable.