Hundreds of health staff across the Yorkshire and Humberside area – including nurses, paramedics, cleaners, domestics and porters – are writing to the region’s 54 MPs asking them to back UNISON’s call for NHS staff to get an early pay rise in time for Christmas.
Staff employed in hospitals, clinics and ambulance stations across are urging local politicians to put their case to the government for a significant pay rise of at least £2,000 for every worker across the NHS.
The NHS pay rise is due next April, but health workers, already worn out from the early stages of the pandemic, say bringing the increase forward would help staff feel more valued as the second wave surges.
Bringing the planned wage rise forward a few months would also place the NHS in a better position to face the future, say the region’s health workers.
The pandemic has affected staff profoundly and many may choose to leave the NHS, such are the levels of exhaustion says UNISON. Raising pay this year could persuade staff to change their minds and make the NHS more attractive to thousands of much-needed recruits, adds the union.
With the arrival of winter, the second virus wave and the increasing rates of infection, UNISON believes now is the perfect time for the government to show the high regard in which ministers say they hold NHS staff.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside head of health Trevor Johnston said: “Health workers are exhausted from the first virus peak. They’re now dealing with the second wave and a backlog of cancelled treatments.
“We can rely on them as always to protect and care for us all. But staff are fearful and anxious because they know what lies ahead.
“Now is the time for a significant pay rise from the government. Workers doing the job would then feel valued, and an increase could attract much-needed new recruits.”
Health worker Sue Highton wrote to her MP. She says:
“I have worked for the NHS for 44 years and never seen UNISON NHS members feel like they are the forgotten workers within the public sector at this present time. Regarding pay they have over the years received a low percentage increase but now they are asking for fair pay for everyone. This 2k increase this is not a lot to ask for when we have tried to keep this country alive within the crisis of Covid-19 and put our own lives at risk.”
Another NHS employee Dave Syms said:
“As a member of the NHS, who has work tirelessly through the pandemic, I believe that we’re worth a pay rise of £2,000 and more, and this pay rise should be given to us in December. The pandemic has not gone away we are still here fighting hard to support all members of our communities. We’re worth it.”
Last week the UNISON Hull & East Riding Health Branch invited Dianna Johnson MP to their online branch meeting. After listening to information about the campaign and discussing it with UNISON members, the Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull North pledged to support the call for an early pay rise for NHS staff in Parliament.