Commenting on the publication of the recommendation, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“No wonder the chancellor had nothing to say about the NHS yesterday [in the budget speech]. A one per cent pay rise is the worst kind of insult the government could give health workers who’ve given their absolute everything over the past year.”
Sara went on to say that “The public will be horrified. Staff will think it’s some kind of joke.”
Unite accused the government of being callous when Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “The government’s evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body, due to report in May, saying that it wants the pay of NHS staff pegged at one per cent is callous and takes no account of the public mood.”
Gail went on to say that “During the pandemic, NHS staff were on the frontline 24/7 saving patients’ lives and caring for the dying. More than 620 NHS and social care staff lost their lives to Covid-19.”
Continuing Gail said that “Unite will continue to make the case strongly that NHS staff, deserve an immediate pay rise of £3,000-a-year or 15 per cent, whichever is greater.”
Though she pointed out that “Even this figure won’t start to make up for the 19 per cent decrease in pay in real terms that many NHS workers have lost since the Tories came to power in 2010.”
Bristol Trades Union Council says that Department of Health and Social Care recommendation was one of shame for a morally bankrupt government.
Bristol Trades Union Council and the entire NHS workforce demands that the pay review body, reporting in May, comes up with a much more sensible and realistic recommendation than this laughable suggestion by the government.
Bristol Trades Union Council 