Public want  NHS staff to get early and significant pay rise

A majority of the public (69%) think all NHS staff should get an early pay rise before the end of this year, according to a UNISON/Savanta ComRes poll published today (Wednesday). The findings also highlight how two thirds (66%) of the public believe a wage increase for employees – including healthcare assistants, nurses, hospital porters, midwives, paramedics and cleaners – should be significant in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The results send a clear message to the government that there’s substantial public support for a new pay deal to be agreed now for health service workers, many of whom have risked their own safety to protect everyone else, says UNISON. At the start of the month, UNISON and 13 other health unions – representing more than 1.3 million NHS employees across the UK – urged the Chancellor and Prime Minister to provide the funding for an early pay rise for all staff. Health workers are currently in the final year of a three-year deal. They’re due a pay rise next April, but unions want the government to show its appreciation for NHS staff by bringing it forward to this year. However, the government failed to commit to an early pay rise last week when wage increases for 900,000 workers elsewhere in the public sector were announced. Chancellor Rishi Sunak also warned of restraint in future public sector pay awards in a letter to government departments. The poll of more than 2,000 people found that almost three quarters (73%) backed an ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release fair pay NHS Sara Gorton Source Type: news