Labour facing moment of truth over tax pledges, economists warn
Experts say 5.5% pay increase for public sector not ‘consistent’ with spending plans that rule out tax rises
June 2024
UK teachers and health workers: what do you think of the political parties’ manifestos?
We would like to hear from teachers, NHS workers and other key workers on their thoughts on political parties’ manifestos
May 2024
Almost nine out of 10 nurses in England work when ill, survey finds
Nurses ‘sacrifice their health and wellbeing’ to help plug gaps in rotas, Royal College of Nurses says
April 2024
Nurses in England took an average of one week off sick for stress last year, data shows
Chronic workforce shortages have put nursing staff under unbearable pressure, says union chief
March 2024
MoD faces fresh claims of ‘toxic’ culture as 99 cases investigated
Exclusive: Allegations of ‘bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation’ being examined, official figures show
February 2024
Public sector should embrace flexible working and trial four-day week
Letter: David Sinclair on the importance of helping employees, especially women, stay in work
January 2024
Thousands of public sector workers stage 24-hour strike in Northern Ireland
The Guardian view on Ofsted: the tragedy of Ruth Perry shows up a failed model
November 2023
‘Employers should recognise the issues’: menstrual conditions in the workplace
Kristi Hughes, 44, lives in Liverpool and works in the public sector. She describes her experience of endometriosis
MoD revelations add to sexual harassment crisis within wider military
Complaints compiled by 60 senior civilian women follow reports of rape, assault and bullying across forces
‘The eyes tracking me is awful’: senior women’s complaints about MoD behaviour
Sixty women at MoD complain of widespread ‘toxic’ and ‘hostile’ behaviour
The Guardian view on public sector work: the nursery shortage points to a deeper crisis
August 2023
One in 11 workers in England could be NHS staff by 2036-37, study shows
Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates workforce expansion plan means NHS would employ 49% of all public sector staff
July 2023
Sunak could have made peace with public servants a year ago – he just didn’t want to
Polly Toynbee
For over seven months, Tory ideologues put Britain through the wringer. We pay a high price for cheap politics, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
May 2023
Bin crews to work four-day week as UK trials extend to public sector frontline
South Cambridgeshire council will test 32-hour week on principle that staff will work ‘more intensely and productively’
March 2023
Ofsted can be summed up in one word: inadequate
Letters: Prof Colin Richards stands by his 1990s criticism of the schools regulator, Michael Pyke says it was set up to enforce a marketised system, and other readers give their views
February 2023
Social workers in England quitting in record numbers
Numbers fall for first time since 2017 despite increased need due to cost of living crisis
Up to 32,000 Unison NHS staff in England to strike on 8 March
Union hits out after it was excluded from talks between health secretary and Royal College of Nursing
First Edition newsletter
Wednesday briefing: A guide to the numbers behind the strikes
In today’s newsletter: With almost 500,000 workers expected to walk out today and months of industrial action ahead, here’s a look at the scale of the issue and the impact of real pay cuts