Helga Pile, head of health at Unison, the biggest health union, said: “Hard-pressed NHS staff will be downright angry at another below-inflation pay award.
“Yet again, they’re expected to keep delivering more while effectively being given less, as pay slides behind living costs.”
The pay review body recommendation of a 3.3% rise also applies to Northern Ireland, but there has been no decision made yet on what will happen there although ministers have indicated they want to give the pay rise if the budget allows.
The government in England said it did represent an above-inflation award, saying the forecast for the coming year was around 2%.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This government hugely appreciates the incredible work of talented staff across our NHS.”
The government said it would be in pay packets by the start of April.
But it gave no indication when the announcement about doctors pay would be made – it is thought the pay body that makes recommendations about pay for them has yet to deliver its report to ministers.
The government is currently in talks with the British Medical Association about the pay of resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors.
BMA members recently voted in favour of strike action, giving them another six-month mandate for walkouts. There have already been 14 strikes so far in the long-running dispute.