This morning (Friday), members of UNISON – including nursing, engineering and ambulance staff - will deliver a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to put NHS pay at the top of his ‘to-do’ list when parliament reconvenes next week.
The union wants to see plans brought forward to award every NHS employee an increase of at least £2,000 by the end of this year. This is the equivalent of around £1 per hour for all staff and, if accepted, would take minimum wages in the health service over £20,000 a year for the first time according to UNISON.
The letter references Boris Johnson’s own battle with COVID-19 and his recovery thanks to the care he received from the NHS. It says: “Health staff have heard how much your recent personal experiences taught you about the value of what they do. They are now looking for you to reflect that in their pay. So, Prime Minister, why wait?”
UNISON says its pay demand – which is on behalf of staff currently on Agenda for Change contracts – is fair, reasonable and the least the government can do to show it values everyone working in the health service.
UNISON Head of Health, Sara Gorton says: “There’s a tough winter ahead and a pandemic that shows little sign of disappearing. Giving health staff a morale boost now is much-needed ahead of any good news about a vaccine.”
The GMB has also called for a real-time pay increase for healthcare heroes and claiming the average healthcare worker has lost approximately 15% pay during the past decade. They were also excluded from the government’s recent announcements on public sector pay, despite battling on the front line against coronavirus.
“At a time when we are relying on our health workers more than ever, we can’t expect them to swallow another real terms pay cut,” says Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer.
“Now is the time for the government to make amends. Give the healthcare workers the respect and dignity in pay which is long overdue to really tackle the recruitment and retention crisis within the NHS. Now is the time to pay up.”
