8% pay rise: ‘We are not being paid realistic salaries’— PSWU

The eight per cent increase in base pay for public sector workers in 2027 will not address what the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) describes as the fundamental problem of unrealistic salaries in the public service.

The union’s General Secretary, Bernard Adjei, said its priority was to secure pay levels that reflected the needs and circumstances of workers, rather than rely on annual percentage adjustments that failed to tackle the underlying problem.

He said the proposed increase would not make salaries realistic, particularly for workers whose existing earnings remained inadequate.

“What we are actually fighting for for our members is that we are paid realistic salaries. It is our contention and our position that the public sector worker is not being paid realistic salaries. That is the major point,” he said.

Mr Adjei was speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, November 2, during a discussion on the eight per cent base pay increase agreed for public sector workers for 2027.

Asked whether the adjustment would address the union’s concerns, he responded: “No, it doesn't.”

His comments reinforce the union’s position that the challenge facing public sector workers goes beyond the size of annual salary increases and requires a broader review of the remuneration system.

The union has previously argued that repeated percentage adjustments cannot resolve the persistent problem of low salaries in parts of the public service.