A pay claim submitted by UNISON would see every NHS employee receive of £2,000 or more by the end of this year.
UNISON – which represents staff across the NHS including healthcare assistants, radiographers, porters, midwives and paramedics – says this rise is the equivalent of around £1 an hour for all staff.
If the claim is accepted, minimum wages in the health service would go above £20,000 a year for the first time, according to the union.
Over the summer a series of public rallies have been taking place across the country in support of health workers. And this week Unison members delivered their own appeal to the PM,
“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?
A survey of the public showed substantial support with Two thirds of those questioned by Com Res agreeing that the increase should be significant in the light of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“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.”
Unite the union, which has 100,000 members in the health service, also demanded that pay discussions between the government, the NHS and health trade unions start without delay. Calling for staff to receive an early pay rise of 15 per cent or £3,000, whichever is greater.
Unite national officer for health Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe said:
“Hundreds of health and social care staff have lost their lives in the continuing battle against Covid-19 which has heightened the deep appreciation that the public has for the NHS.”
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