Covid: Unions urge public to back ‘decent’ pay rise for NHS workers
‘The government now needs to pay up,’ says Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton
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Your support makes all the difference.Unions representing more than 1.3 million healthcare staff are urging the public to support their campaign for pay rises to recognise their work during the pandemic.
The coalition of 14 workers' organisations, whose members include nurses, paramedics, hospital porters and cleaners, are asking people to message their MPs and spread the word on social media.
They argue that NHS workers have effectively suffered a decade of pay cuts in real terms due to austerity policies - despite the country relying on them more than ever.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has refused to guarantee a post-Covid pay rise and in November indicated staff would have to wait for the independent pay review board to report back, due by May this year.
The Royal College of Nursing are calling for a 12.5 per cent pay rise for nursing staff across the UK, while the GMB is demanding 15 per cent and Unison had asked for each employee to receive an increase of at least £2,000 by the end of 2020 under its campaign to "give all NHS staff a decent pay rise” .
They are now stepping up their campaigns by jointly calling for the public to use social media to champion their work under hashtags such as #FairPay.
"NHS staff are currently holding the country together," said Jon Skewes of the Royal College of Midwives. "They're facing a challenge like never before, which is made worse by staffing shortages.
"The government needs to act now to acknowledge their contribution and commitment. Ministers must give staff an early and significant pay rise that would help restore their pay in real terms. It would also ensure there are enough staff to future-proof the NHS."
Unison's head of health Sara Gorton said the NHS was facing the worst crisis in its history, adding: "Everyone is relying on health workers in many different roles to see us through. Clapping has been a way of showing support, but the government now needs to pay up."
Donna Kinnair, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Last year, nursing staff were buoyed by overwhelming public gratitude. Today presents a new and different way to display that same strength of feeling.
"Health care staff need to hear long after today there's public support to treat them better, recognise their skill and pay them fairly."
The Department of Health and Social Care said that NHS staff were exempt from the temporary pause on pay rises for public sector workers and had received salary increases under existing multi-year pay deals agreed with trade unions.
Nurses are due to be considered for a pay rise in 2021-22, when the current three-year deal comes to an end.
A spokesperson said: "We continue to listen to our valued staff and trade unions so everyone is rewarded fairly and, when we receive them, we will consider the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body."
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