NHS staff to protest over pay today (Thurs)

THE UK’s biggest public sector trade union is calling on all healthcare workers to hold official protests today (Thurs) as part of their campaign for fair pay in the NHS.
UNISON, which has 1.3 million members, is encouraging healthcare workers, including nurses, paramedics, porters, cleaners, cooks, therapists and healthcare assistants to get involved in the ‘Day of Action’.
The protests will take place outside hospitals and other workplaces around the country – including the Royal Berkshire Hospital – over an offer that denies 60 per cent of NHS workers a pay rise.
UNISON has condemned the Government’s decision to give a one per cent non-consolidated increase only to NHS staff at the top of their pay scale – accusing them of attacking hard working and dedicated NHS staff.
The union say that more people are using the NHS while the government time is simultaneously cutting the money available to fund the health service.
It says that this means health staff across the UK are under pressure to deliver more services with fewer people.
Christina McAnea, UNISON’s Head of Health, said:“ “We are calling on our 400,000 members working in the health service to publicly protest against the unacceptable pay offer from the Government.
“We are the largest health union, and we take the responsibility that comes with that, very seriously.
“Our members in the NHS tell us they are demoralised, overworked and undervalued. And we also know that a demotivated workforce is bad for patients. Pay in the NHS has been effectively cut by 10 per cent since the coalition came to power.
“Our members are among those hit hard by the state of the economy, the rise in the cost of food and fuel, coupled with housing and benefit cuts.
“It is a national disgrace that working people have to rely on benefits, food banks or resort to payday loans at exorbitant interest rates to make ends meet.”