The Public Sector People Managers' Association (PPMA) has taken a clear position on senior public-sector pay and advocates strongly the need for mature discussions between employers, employees and trade unions across the whole of the public sector to address these issues positively and constructively.
Stephen Moir, past president of the PPMA and corporate director, people, policy and law at Cambridgeshire County Council, told HR magazine: "The future for such debate and discussion around remuneration packages does not need to be about the current salaries paid to senior public servants. Instead it must shift firmly towards addressing the arrangements by which pay, pensions and conditions of employment are determined for the most senior people paid in the future."
The PPMA believes that using a remuneration committee, composed of non-executive directors or locally elected politicians, will help ensure that enhanced accountability, transparency and objectivity becomes the norm in setting senior salaries for the public sector. This should help to further address the many valid concerns and opinions expressed by members of the public, ministers and media commentators.
"There are already many organisations across the public sector incorporating independent assessment of senior remuneration packages, similar to practices adopted by many private sector organisations. But what we need now is to learn from each other and ensure a consistent approach across the whole of the public sector," Moir added.
According to the PPMA, part of this necessary shift in emphasis has to be the requirement to manage the 'total cost' of the public-sector pay bill, including the costs of senior people, more effectively and equally the 'total reward' that goes with being a senior public servant, not just the salary an individual receives.
The PPMA welcomes the opportunity that the review of fair pay in the public sector, led by the Work Foundation’s Will Hutton, will provide and responds to the call for information and evidence by advocating these points in its response.
Exclusive: PPMA urges constructive dialogue between trade unions, employers and staff
Public-sector HR directors have called for robust discussions between trade unions, employers and staff saying a focus should be on the 'total cost' of the public-sector pay bill not just the salary an individual receives, according to PPMA.
