HEALTH staff across the West Midlands are urging the Government to give pay rises of at least £2,000 to every worker in the NHS.
Staff in UNISON branches – including nurses, paramedics, cleaners and porters – campaigned on social media and held events over two days last week to show they mean business.
The message was clear: They want far more than an 8pm applause for their valiant efforts during the pandemic.
Health workers want to see the Government show its appreciation for staff by bringing forward the pay rise due next April.
This early wage increase, equivalent to around £1 an hour extra for all staff, could give local economies a much-needed boost as workers spend the extra money in their pockets on the high street, says UNISON.
And with the arrival of autumn, and the increasing rates of Covid-19, UNISON believes now is the perfect time for Parliament to show the high regard in which ministers say they hold NHS staff.
UNISON West Midlands regional secretary, Ravi Subramanian, said: “Infection rates are rising in care homes, out in the wider community and hospital admissions are on the up.
“The pressure on staff is beginning to build again. That’s why now would be the perfect time for the Prime Minister and
Chancellor Rishi Sunak to demonstrate their appreciation in a much more practical way.
“Boris Johnson’s pie-in-the-sky plans for any time, any place, anywhere ‘moonshot’ testing would cost a mindboggling £100bn.
“An early pay rise for NHS staff would be a tiny fraction of that and would make a huge difference to individuals and the services they help provide.”
Mr Subramanian added that a pay rise would help the NHS tackle the mounting staff shortages which were already causing huge problems before the virus hit.
