Public urged to join mass action against government’s proposed 1% rise for NHS staff
People are being asked to stand on their doorsteps and balconies tonight (Thursday) to slow handclap the government over its proposal for a 1% pay rise for NHS staff.
The public action – backed by UNISON, health unions and the TUC – is the latest step in the campaign to achieve fair pay for health workers who have worked tirelessly to keep the country safe, says UNISON.
The mass event takes place at 8pm on the first anniversary of the World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19 a global pandemic.
The slow handclap will be repeated three weeks later on 1 April, the day staff were due to have their next wage increase.
UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The chancellor and the prime minister should be ashamed of treating health staff so shabbily. This is the chance for the public to call them out on pay.
“Everyone in the NHS has coped in the toughest conditions this past year. Many have faced the trauma of patients dying, the exhaustion from endless shifts and the strain of chronic understaffing.
“Yet the government has shown them zero respect for keeping the NHS on its feet. Now let’s give health staff our support this evening by showing the government exactly what we all think of its 1% pay proposal.”
UNISON Y&H Regional Vice Chair of Health SG David Syms and Branch Secretary of Leeds and York Community Health branch said
“Millions have been given to the friends of tory ministers and donors during this pandemic to supply the NHS. Many of the contracts have not been fulfilled
Frontline non clinical staff who have been key to keeping services and hospitals running have been let down.
Our porters, domestics and back office staff have worked tirelessly to support our clinical teams only to be told you’re not worth more than 1%”
Sue Highton, Chair of the UNISON Y&H Regional Health Service Group and Branch Secretary of Sheffield Community Health Branch highlighted the massive recruitment issue in the NHS: “We all know that the NHS cannot recruit nurses. A decent pay rise would secure this recruitment drive. All trusts are finding it impossible to recruit into their massive vacancies at this present time that we need to secure the future of our NHS.”
Notes to editors:
– On Thursday evening at 8pm, health unions are urging the public to show support for NHS staff with a slow hand clap demonstrating their displeasure at government proposals for a 1% pay rise. UNISON is calling on the government to give all NHS workers a pay rise of at least £2,000. Health workers are currently in the final year of a three-year deal. They’re due a pay rise in April.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk