Ulster Herald
Advertisement
THERE FOR YOU: Queen’s Hotel lit up for NHS and (below) preparing food in the kitchen
‘Insulting’ pay offer could lead to nurses strike Posted: 11:39 am March 12, 2021
By Emma Ryan
THE one percent pay rise offer for nurses who fought on the frontline during the Covid19 battle has been branded ‘an insult’ and could pose the risk of further industrial action.
Health unions have responded with ‘dismay and anger’ at the news that the UK government is only prepared to fund a pay uplift of one percent for health workers.
A joint statement issued by the Royal College of Nurses (RCN), Unison, Nipsa and Unite unions said members would be ‘outraged’ and the ‘government position cannot stand and must be challenged.’
Salisbury District Hospital. Inset: Danny Kruger MP and John Glen MP. MP FOR Salisbury John Glen has defended the proposed one per cent pay rise for NHS staff. Mr Glen said the pandemic had hit the economy hard, so savings needed to be made - which only allowed a modest increase for NHS heroes. But a Labour city councillor has insisted NHS staff and key workers desparately need a tangible increase in income. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said the starting point for an NHS pay rise should be 2.1 per cent, but declined to express his backing for the 12.5 per cent raise demanded by the Royal College of Nurses.
LONDON: Sir Keir Starmer has said NHS workers should get a “fair” pay rise, but declined to back a 12.5 per cent increase proposed by the Royal College of Nurses.Launching his campaign.
THE one per-cent pay rise offer for nurses who fought on the frontline during the Covid-19 battle has been branded ‘an insult’ and could pose the risk of further industrial action.
Health unions have responded with ‘dismay and anger’ at the news that the UK government is only prepared to fund a pay uplift of one percent for health workers.
A joint statement issued by the Royal College of Nurses (RCN), Unison, Nipsa and Unite unions said members would be ‘outraged’ and the ‘government position cannot stand and must be challenged.’
Advertisement
The Government has said the one percent offer represents what is ‘affordable’ due to the ongoing struggle due to the Covid19 pandemic.
Key workers feel forgotten : Bradford councillor speaks at Labour s election campaign launch A BRADFORD Councillor was chosen to introduce Sir Keir Starmer for the launch of Labour s election campaign. Cllr Aneela Ahmed (City, Labour) took to the virtual podium today and spoke about her experiences as a frontline worker during the pandemic. Cllr Ahmed works as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, handling 999 calls at the Trust’s Wakefield Emergency Operations Centre. Giving her backing to the leader, Cllr Ahmed claimed the controversial one per cent pay rise for NHS workers had left many feeling forgotten . Speaking before the launch, she said: As a frontline worker the past year has been really tough. I ve seen the awful impact of this pandemic day in, day out.